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Dąbrowska E, Harazny JM, Miszkowska-Nagórna E, Stefański A, Graff B, Kunicka K, Świerblewska E, Rojek A, Szyndler A, Gąsecki D, Wolf J, Gruchała M, Laurent S, Schmieder RE, Narkiewicz K. Aortic stiffness is not only associated with structural but also functional parameters of retinal microcirculation. Microvasc Res 2020; 129:103974. [PMID: 31923388 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2020.103974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that alterations in large arteries are associated with microvascular remodelling and decreased retinal capillary blood flow. METHODS The study group comprised of 88 patients with essential hypertension and 32 healthy controls. Retinal microcirculation was evaluated by scanning laser Doppler flowmetry. Macrovascular changes were assessed on the basis of arterial stiffness measurement (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity), its hemodynamic consequences (central pulse pressure, augmentation pressure, augmentation index) and intima media thickness of common carotid artery. RESULTS Pulse wave velocity was inversely correlated to mean retinal capillary blood flow in hypertensive patients (R = -0.32, p < 0.01). This relationship remained significant in multivariate regression analysis after adjustment for age, sex, central systolic blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (β = -31.27, p < 0.001). Lumen diameter (LD) of retinal arterioles was significantly smaller in hypertensive then normotensive subjects (79.4 vs. 83.8, p = 0.03). Central and brachial systolic, diastolic and mean BPs were significantly correlated with LD and outer diameter of retinal arterioles. The relationship between LD and central BPs remained significant in multivariate analysis (β = -0.15, p = 0.03 for cSBP; β = -0.22, p = 0.04 for cDBP; β = -0.21, p = 0.03 for cMBP). Moreover, in a subgroup with cardiac damage central and brachial pulse pressure were positively associated with retinal wall thickness, wall cross sectional area, and wall to lumen ratio. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the study provides a strong evidence that microcirculation is coupled with macrocirculation not only in terms of structural but also functional parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta Dąbrowska
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland; First Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Joanna M Harazny
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland; Clinical Research Centre, Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Univerity Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Eliza Miszkowska-Nagórna
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Adrian Stefański
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Beata Graff
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kunicka
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Ewa Świerblewska
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Rojek
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Anna Szyndler
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Dariusz Gąsecki
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Jacek Wolf
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Marcin Gruchała
- First Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Roland E Schmieder
- Clinical Research Centre, Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Univerity Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Krzysztof Narkiewicz
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
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