Carotid stiffness is significantly correlated with wall-to-lumen ratio of retinal arterioles

5 years ago

Carotid stiffness is significantly correlated with wall-to-lumen ratio of retinal arterioles

Aggiusti, Carlo, Paini, Anna, Rizzoni, Damiano, De Ciuceis, Carolina, Bertacchini, Fabio, Salvetti, Massimo, Muiesan, Maria L., Semeraro, Francesco, Agabiti-Rosei, Claudia, Agabiti-Rosei, Enrico, Duse, Sarah

Backgroud and purpose: Wall-to-lumen ratio of retinal arterioles (W/L ratio) might serve as an in-vivo parameter of microvascular damage. No study has investigated the relationship between carotid stiffness and W/L ratio of retinal arteries. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess the correlation between local carotid stiffness, as assessed by echotracking technique, and W/L ratio of retinal arterioles, as assessed by noninvasive flowmetry in normotensive patients and in patients with primary hypertension. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-seven patients underwent renal arteries W/L ratio and local carotid-pulse wave velocity (carotid PWV) measurement. One hundred and fifteen patients had a diagnosis of primary hypertension, whereas 112 were normotensive patients. Results: W/L ratio and carotid PWV were both related with clinic SBP (r = 0.17, P < 0.05; r = 0.50, P < 0.001), clinic pulse pressure (r = 0.22, P < 0.001; r = 0.55, P < 0.001), carotid SBP (r = 0.18, P < 0.05; r = 0.51, P < 0.001) and carotid pulse pressure (r = 0.24, P < 0.001; r = 0.56, P < 0.001). W/L ratio was correlated with carotid PWV (r = 0.18, P < 0.005). At multivariate analysis, carotid PWV remained independently associated with W/L ratio. Conclusion: In hypertensive and normotensive patients, carotid stiffness is significantly correlated with W/L ratio of retinal arteries, independently of possible confounders.

Publisher URL: https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Fulltext/2018/03000/Carotid_stiffness_is_significantly_correlated_with.19.aspx

DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000001595