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Relationship of the main indicators of systemic COVID-associated endotheliopathy with the morphofunctional state and hemodynamics of the retina and chorioid in the acute period of the disease. OPHTHALMOLOGY JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.17816/ov110727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nonspecific angio- and retinopathy is one of the clinical manifestations of a new coronavirus infection. The frequency of occurrence of these changes in people with severe COVID-19 does not exceed 55%. The causes, course and consequences of these microcirculatory disorders of the retina are currently not well understood.
AIM: To study and compare of retinal morphometric parameters and systemic endothelial dysfunction markers, as well as the main clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with moderate and severe coronavirus infection during convalescence.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 44 patients (86 eyes) who had COVID-19 during the previous 3 months, who were divided into 2 groups: with moderate and severe disease. The control group consisted of 18 healthy volunteers (36 eyes). All patients underwent a standard ophthalmological examination and optical coherence tomography, which included an assessment of the choroidal thickness (CT) and measurement of the mean diameter of the peripapillary arteries (MAD) and veins (MVD). During hospitalization, all patients underwent a laboratory study of venous blood parameters, as well as an assessment of the microcirculation of the sublingual plexus by examining the density of the endothelial glycocalyx (PBR) using the GlycoCheck.
RESULTS: In patients who underwent COVID-19, there was a significant increase in CT relative to the control group, amounting to 308, 344 and 392 m, respectively. The most pronounced difference was observed between MVD in patients with severe infection and the control group (119.1 m vs. 99.2 m). In patients with moderate and severe COVID-19, MAD and MVD were positively correlated with TC, with r = 0.389 and r = 0.584, respectively. MVD also correlated with the level of leukocytes (r = 0.504), the ESR value (r = 0.656). Correlations between MVD and data characterizing the state of the glycocalyx in the sublingual vascular plexus were revealed: the filling of small capillaries with erythrocytes (r = 0.587), as well as the marginal perfusion value in large capillaries 2025 m (r = 0.479) and PBR (r = 0.479). Only significant differences and correlations are shown (p 0.005).
CONCLUSIONS: In patients who underwent moderate and severe COVID-19 during the convalescence period (up to 30 days), an increase in the diameter of peripapillary vessels and TC is observed, proportional to the severity of COVID-19, laboratory markers of systemic inflammation and hypercoagulation (the number of leukocytes, the ESR value, D-dimer and prothrombin), which indicates the inflammatory nature of the changes. The severity of postcovid retinal microangiopathy correlates with indicators detecting a decreasing of the endothelial glycocalyx thickness in the sublingual capillary plexus, which indirectly indicates a connection with systemic endotheliopathy.
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Hernandez M, González-Zamora J, Recalde S, Moreno-Orduña M, Bilbao-Malavé V, Saenz de Viteri M, Landecho MF, Fernandez-Robredo P, García-Layana A. Evaluation of Macular Retinal Vessels and Histological Changes in Two Cases of COVID-19. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1546. [PMID: 34829775 PMCID: PMC8615149 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess vascular and histological alterations in two COVID-19 and three control post-mortem retinas. The macular areas of flat-mounted samples were processed for immunofluorescence. Lectin and collagen IV positive vessels were captured under confocal microscopy, and endothelium loss and tortuosity were analyzed. Expression of ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) (the receptor for SARS-CoV-2), Iba1 (ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1) and GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) were quantified in retinal sections. The number of lectin vessels in COVID-19 retinas decreased by 27% compared to the control (p < 0.01) and the tortuosity increased in COVID-19 retinas (7.3 ± 0.2) vs. control retinas (6.8 ± 0.07) (p < 0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis revealed an increase in ACE2 (2.3 ± 1.3 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1; p < 0.0001) and Iba1 expression (3.06 ± 0.6 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1; p < 0.01) in COVID-19 sections whereas no changes in GFAP were observed. Analysis of the COVID-19 macular retinal tissue suggested that endothelial cells are a preferential target of SARS-CoV-2 with subsequent changes through their ACE2 receptor expression and morphology. Thus, microglial activation was hyperactive when facing an ensuing immunological challenge after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Hernandez
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria en Enfermedades Oculares (Oftared), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jorge González-Zamora
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
| | - Sergio Recalde
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria en Enfermedades Oculares (Oftared), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maite Moreno-Orduña
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Valentina Bilbao-Malavé
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
| | - Manuel Saenz de Viteri
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria en Enfermedades Oculares (Oftared), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Manuel F. Landecho
- COVID-19 Unit, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Patricia Fernandez-Robredo
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria en Enfermedades Oculares (Oftared), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Alfredo García-Layana
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria en Enfermedades Oculares (Oftared), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Invernizzi A, Schiuma M, Parrulli S, Torre A, Zicarelli F, Colombo V, Marini S, Villella E, Bertoni A, Antinori S, Rizzardini G, Galli M, Meroni L, Giacomelli A, Staurenghi G. Retinal vessels modifications in acute and post-COVID-19. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19373. [PMID: 34588541 PMCID: PMC8481283 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98873-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 primarily affecting the respiratory system which can damage vessels walls virtually in any body district. Changes affecting retinal vessels are a good marker for systemic vascular alterations. This study investigated retinal vessels during the acute phase of COVID-19 and after patients recovery. Fifty-nine eyes from 32 COVID-19 patients and 80 eyes from 53 unexposed subjects were included. Mean arteries diameter (MAD) and mean veins diameter (MVD) were assessed through semi-automatic analysis on fundus color photos at baseline and 6 months later in patients and subjects unexposed to the virus. At baseline MAD and MVD were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared to unexposed subjects (p < 0.0001). Both MAD and MVD significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients at follow-up (from 97.5 ± 10.9 to 92.2 ± 11.4 µm, p < 0.0001 and from 133.1 ± 19.3 to 124.6 ± 16.1 µm, p < 0.0001, respectively). Despite this reduction vessels diameter remained significantly higher in severe COVID-19 patients compared to unexposed subjects. Transient retinal vessels dilation could serve a biomarker for systemic inflammation while long-lasting alterations seen in severe COVID-19 likely reflect irreversible structural damage to the vessels walls and should be further investigated for their possible effects on tissues perfusion and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Invernizzi
- Eye Clinic, Luigi Sacco Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- The Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute, Sydney Eye Hospital, The University of Sydney, 8 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW, 2001, Australia.
| | - Marco Schiuma
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Parrulli
- Eye Clinic, Luigi Sacco Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Torre
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Zicarelli
- Eye Clinic, Luigi Sacco Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Colombo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Marini
- Eye Clinic, Luigi Sacco Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Villella
- Eye Clinic, Luigi Sacco Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Bertoni
- Eye Clinic, Luigi Sacco Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Spinello Antinori
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuliano Rizzardini
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Galli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Meroni
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Giacomelli
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Staurenghi
- Eye Clinic, Luigi Sacco Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Bilbao-Malavé V, González-Zamora J, Saenz de Viteri M, de la Puente M, Gándara E, Casablanca-Piñera A, Boquera-Ventosa C, Zarranz-Ventura J, Landecho MF, García-Layana A. Persistent Retinal Microvascular Impairment in COVID-19 Bilateral Pneumonia at 6-Months Follow-Up Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography. Biomedicines 2021; 9:502. [PMID: 34063291 PMCID: PMC8147391 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9050502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term evolution of retinal changes in COVID-19 patients with bilateral pneumonia. A total of 17 COVID-19 patients underwent retinal imaging 6 months after hospital discharge with structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The parafoveal retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) were significantly thinner in COVID-19 patients at 6 months compared to 0 months (p = <0.001 in both cases). In the optic nerve analysis, a significantly thinner RNFL was observed (p = 0.006) but persisted significantly thickened, compared to controls (p = 0.02). The vascular density (VD) at 6 months persisted significantly decreased when compared to the control group, and no significant differences were found with the 0 months evaluation; in addition, when analyzed separately, women showed a worsening in the VD. Moreover, a significantly greater foveal area zone (FAZ) (p = 0.003) was observed in COVID-19 patients at 6 months, compared to 0 months. The cotton wool spots (CWSs) observed at baseline were no longer present at 6 months, except for one patient that developed new ones. This study demonstrates that some of the previously known microvascular alterations resulting from COVID-19, persist over time and are still evident 6 months after hospital discharge in patients who have suffered from bilateral pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Bilbao-Malavé
- Department of Opthalmology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (V.B.-M.); (J.G.-Z.); (M.d.l.P.); (E.G.); (A.G.-L.)
| | - Jorge González-Zamora
- Department of Opthalmology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (V.B.-M.); (J.G.-Z.); (M.d.l.P.); (E.G.); (A.G.-L.)
| | - Manuel Saenz de Viteri
- Department of Opthalmology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (V.B.-M.); (J.G.-Z.); (M.d.l.P.); (E.G.); (A.G.-L.)
| | - Miriam de la Puente
- Department of Opthalmology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (V.B.-M.); (J.G.-Z.); (M.d.l.P.); (E.G.); (A.G.-L.)
| | - Elsa Gándara
- Department of Opthalmology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (V.B.-M.); (J.G.-Z.); (M.d.l.P.); (E.G.); (A.G.-L.)
| | - Anna Casablanca-Piñera
- Institut Clínic de Oftalmología (ICOF), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.-P.); (C.B.-V.); (J.Z.-V.)
| | - Claudia Boquera-Ventosa
- Institut Clínic de Oftalmología (ICOF), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.-P.); (C.B.-V.); (J.Z.-V.)
| | - Javier Zarranz-Ventura
- Institut Clínic de Oftalmología (ICOF), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.C.-P.); (C.B.-V.); (J.Z.-V.)
- Institut de Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel F. Landecho
- COVID-19 Unit, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Alfredo García-Layana
- Department of Opthalmology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (V.B.-M.); (J.G.-Z.); (M.d.l.P.); (E.G.); (A.G.-L.)
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