Retinal Microvascular Change in Hypertension as measured by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Woo Hyuk Lee, Jae-Hyeong Park, Yeokyoung Won, Min-Woo Lee, Yong-Il Shin, Young-Joon Jo, Jung-Yeul Kim, Woo Hyuk Lee, Jae-Hyeong Park, Yeokyoung Won, Min-Woo Lee, Yong-Il Shin, Young-Joon Jo, Jung-Yeul Kim

Abstract

Many studies have reported the effect of hypertension on microcirculation of the retina. Advance of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) allows us more detailed observations of microcirculation of the retina. Therefore, we compared OCTA parameters between chronic hypertension (disease duration of at least 10 yrs; Group A, 45 eyes), relieved hypertensive retinopathy (grade IV HTNR < 1 yr prior; Group B, 40 eyes), and normal controls [Group C (50 eyes) ≥ 50 yrs old and Group D (50 eyes) < 50 yrs old]. A 3 × 3 mm macular scan was performed in each group by OCTA. In vessel density of 3 mm full, group A and B were significantly decreased compared to normal control group (Group A vs. C; 19.4 mm-1 vs. 20.1 mm-1, Group B vs. D; 19.8 mm-1 vs. 21.8 mm-1, all p < 0.05). In foveal avascular zone, group A and B were significantly increased compared to normal control group (Group A vs. C; 0.35 mm2 vs. 0.30 mm2, Group B vs. D; 0.36 mm2 vs. 0.29 mm2, all p < 0.05). OCTA is useful for examining retinal microcirculatory changes in hypertension and we confirmed that hypertension affects the OCTA parameters. Considering the effect of hypertension on the change of microvasculature, care is required in the interpretation of OCTA parameters in various ophthalmic condition.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Representative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images with the signal strength 10. Upper row (A–D) are images of normal 60-year old female. Lower row (E–G) are images of 60-year old female with chronic hypertension (HTN). Vessel and perfusion density 1 mm center of the two participants were 13.6 mm−1, 0.230 (A) and 7.8 mm−1, 0.126 (E); vessel and perfusion density inner ring were 22.1 mm−1, 0.393 (B) and 21.6 mm−1, 0.385 (F); vessel and perfusion density 3 mm full were 21.2 mm−1, 0.375 (C) and 20.5 mm−1, 0.361 (G), respectively. The automatically detected foveal avascular zone areas were 0.16 mm2 (D) and 0.39 mm2 (H), respectively.

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