Retinal Microvascular Changes in Association with Endothelial Glycocalyx Damage and Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Cross-Sectional Study
Konstantinos Pappelis,
Alexia Risi-Koziona,
Chrysa Agapitou,
Emmanouil Korakas,
John Thymis,
George Pavlidis,
Stamatios Lampsas,
Aikaterini Kountouri,
Loukia Pliouta,
Ilias Georgalas,
Panagiotis Theodossiadis,
Vaia Lambadiari,
Ignatios Ikonomidis,
Irini Chatziralli
Affiliations
Konstantinos Pappelis
2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Alexia Risi-Koziona
2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Chrysa Agapitou
2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Emmanouil Korakas
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Unit and Diabetes Centre, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
John Thymis
2nd Department of Cardiology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
George Pavlidis
2nd Department of Cardiology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Stamatios Lampsas
2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Aikaterini Kountouri
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Unit and Diabetes Centre, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Loukia Pliouta
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Unit and Diabetes Centre, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Ilias Georgalas
1st Department of Ophthalmology, G. Gennimatas General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Panagiotis Theodossiadis
2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Vaia Lambadiari
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Unit and Diabetes Centre, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Ignatios Ikonomidis
2nd Department of Cardiology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Irini Chatziralli
2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Background/Objectives: To investigate the potential association between the endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness with retinal changes observed through optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCT-A) in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study were 28 patients with RVO. The demographic and clinical characteristics of all participants were recorded. Comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations were performed, including fundus photography, OCT and OCT-A. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed by measuring the endothelial glycocalyx thickness via the perfused boundary region (PBR5-25). Arterial stiffness was evaluated by measuring the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), the central systolic and diastolic blood pressures (cSBP and cDBP) and the augmentation index (Aix). For each ophthalmological outcome, we generated a saturated linear regression model with demographic and systemic vascular parameters serving as independent variables. Regression coefficients with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. A p value p = 0.050). A 10 mmHg increase in cSBP was associated with a 0.03 mm2 increase in foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area (p = 0.033). A 1% increase in Aix was associated with a 0.005 mm2 increase in FAZ area (p = 0.008). A 1 μm increase in PBR5-25 was associated, on average, with a 4.4% decrease in superior peripapillary VD (p = 0.027). Conclusions: In patients with RVO, structural and microvascular retinal parameters were significantly associated with markers of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness.
