Retinal Structural Changes in Systemic Arterial Hypertension: An OCT Study. Issue 5 (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Akay, Fahrettin; Gündoğan, Fatih C.; Yolcu, Umit; Toyran, Sami; Tunç, Elif; Uzun, Salih
• Is Part Of: European journal of ophthalmology. Volume 26:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 436
• Page End: 441
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Ganglion cell complex -- Macular thickness -- Retinal nerve fiber layer -- Systemic hypertension; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; Eye -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 617.7005
• DOI: 10.5301/ejo.5000740
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1120-6721

Abstract

Purpose: To assess retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and macular thickness changes in young adults with systemic arterial hypertension. Methods: This study included 80 young patients (age 23.8 ± 2.8 years) with systemic hypertension (sHT) without any known systemic or ocular disease and 80 age-matched (23.5 ± 2.1 years) healthy controls. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, macular thickness, and GCC thickness were measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Results: Mean disease duration was 3.45 ± 1.48 years (range 2-10). Differences in intraocular pressure, body mass index, axial length, and spherical equivalent between the groups were insignificant (p>0.05). The differences in RNFL thickness did not differ between the groups. Patients with sHT had significantly lower central macular thickness (p = 0.037), inner superior macular thickness (p = 0.045), and outer temporal superior and outer temporal inferior GCC (p<0.001 for both). The RNFL thickness did not differ significantly in all quadrants between the groups (p>0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly correlated with inner temporal superior and inner temporal inferior GCC thickness in a negative manner (p<0.05 for all). Conclusions: Ganglion cell complex thickness decrease is possibly a better retinal marker for hypertensive changes with respect to RNFL and macular thickness.