Retinal microvascular abnormalities and their relationship with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and mortality

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2001

Journal

Survey of Ophthalmology

Volume

46

Issue

1

DOI

10.1016/S0039-6257(01)00234-X

Keywords

Arteriosclerosis; Arteriovenous nicking; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Hypertension; Ischemic heart disease; Retinal arteriolar narrowing; Retinal arteriovenous ratio; Retinal microvascular abnormalities; Retinal photographic grading; Retinopathy; Stroke

Abstract

Retinal microvascular abnormalities, such as generalized and focal arteriolar narrowing, arteriovenous nicking and retinopathy, reflect cumulative vascular damage from hypertension, aging, and other processes. Epidemiological studies indicate that these abnormalities can be observed in 2-15% of the nondiabetic general population and are strongly and consistently associated with elevated blood pressure. Generalized arteriolar narrowing and arteriovenous nicking also appear to be irreversible long-term markers of hypertension, related not only to current but past blood pressure levels as well. There are data supporting an association between retinal microvascular abnormalities and stroke, but there is no convincing evidence of an independent or direct association with atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, or cardiovascular mortality. New computer-related imaging methods are currently being developed to detect the presence and severity of retinal arteriolar narrowing and other microvascular characteristics. When reliably quantified, retinal microvascular abnormalities may be useful as risk indicators for cerebrovascular diseases. © 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

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