Journal article
Retinal microvascular dysfunction in hypercholesterolemia.
- Nägele MP Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Barthelmes J Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Ludovici V Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
- Cantatore S Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Frank M Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Ruschitzka F Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Flammer AJ Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Sudano I Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: isabella.sudano@usz.ch.
- 2018-09-17
Published in:
- Journal of clinical lipidology. - 2018
Endothelial dysfunction
Hypercholesterolemia
LDL cholesterol
Microcirculation
Retinal vessel analysis
Case-Control Studies
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia
Male
Microvessels
Middle Aged
Regression Analysis
Retinal Vessels
English
BACKGROUND
Hypercholesterolemia is one of the most important contributors to atherosclerosis. Whether hypercholesterolemia also affects the retinal microcirculation is unclear.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of our study was to assess the association of cholesterol levels with retinal microvascular function using dynamic and static retinal vessel analysis (RVA) in a primary prevention setting.
METHODS
This cross-sectional, observational study prospectively recruited 67 patients with hypercholesterolemia without known cardiovascular disease (mean age 64.4 ± 10.4 years; 45% female) and 78 healthy controls (mean age 61.8 ± 11.2 years; 45% female). The primary end point of the study was flicker-induced dilatation of retinal arterioles (FIDart) with secondary exploratory outcomes including venular FID (FIDven), arteriovenous ratio, flow-mediated dilatation and arterial stiffness as measured with augmentation index and pulse wave velocity. Multiple regression analysis was performed to study the association of cholesterol levels with retinal microvascular function.
RESULTS
FIDart was significantly impaired in patients with hypercholesterolemia compared with healthy controls (mean FIDart 2.1 ± 1.8 vs 3.1 ± 1.8%, P = .001). This association remained when analysis was restricted to dyslipidemic patients without coexisting hypertension or lipid-lowering therapy. No significant differences remained for FIDven, flow-mediated dilatation, arteriovenous ratio, or arterial stiffness between the groups. Low-density lipoprotein, but not high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol was a significant negative predictor of FIDart in multiple regression analysis.
CONCLUSION
Hypercholesterolemia is associated with significant retinal microvascular dysfunction as evidenced by a reduction in flicker-induced dilatation of retinal arterioles. Dynamic RVA may be a promising method for the study of retinal microvascular dysfunction in populations at elevated cardiovascular risk.
Hypercholesterolemia is one of the most important contributors to atherosclerosis. Whether hypercholesterolemia also affects the retinal microcirculation is unclear.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of our study was to assess the association of cholesterol levels with retinal microvascular function using dynamic and static retinal vessel analysis (RVA) in a primary prevention setting.
METHODS
This cross-sectional, observational study prospectively recruited 67 patients with hypercholesterolemia without known cardiovascular disease (mean age 64.4 ± 10.4 years; 45% female) and 78 healthy controls (mean age 61.8 ± 11.2 years; 45% female). The primary end point of the study was flicker-induced dilatation of retinal arterioles (FIDart) with secondary exploratory outcomes including venular FID (FIDven), arteriovenous ratio, flow-mediated dilatation and arterial stiffness as measured with augmentation index and pulse wave velocity. Multiple regression analysis was performed to study the association of cholesterol levels with retinal microvascular function.
RESULTS
FIDart was significantly impaired in patients with hypercholesterolemia compared with healthy controls (mean FIDart 2.1 ± 1.8 vs 3.1 ± 1.8%, P = .001). This association remained when analysis was restricted to dyslipidemic patients without coexisting hypertension or lipid-lowering therapy. No significant differences remained for FIDven, flow-mediated dilatation, arteriovenous ratio, or arterial stiffness between the groups. Low-density lipoprotein, but not high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol was a significant negative predictor of FIDart in multiple regression analysis.
CONCLUSION
Hypercholesterolemia is associated with significant retinal microvascular dysfunction as evidenced by a reduction in flicker-induced dilatation of retinal arterioles. Dynamic RVA may be a promising method for the study of retinal microvascular dysfunction in populations at elevated cardiovascular risk.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1016/j.jacl.2018.07.015
- PMID 30219640
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/266643
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