Abstract
AimsThis study aimed to investigate the associations among retinal vessel density (RVD), neuroimaging features and cognitive impairment in patients with sporadic cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). MethodsThis was a prospective observational study. A total of forty-nine patients with CSVD were recruited. The CSVD imaging burden was calculated by using a scoring system with a total score of 4 that assigns one point each for severe white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacune, microbleeds (MBs), and basal-ganglia perivascular space (BG-PVS). Patients with a burden score ≥ 2 were classified as having a moderate/severe burden, and those with a score ≤ 1 were classified as the having a none/mild burden. The RVD in the superficial retinal capillary plexus (SRCP) and deep retinal capillary plexus (DRCP) was evaluated by using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The associations among the RVD values, CSVD imaging features, and cognitive impairment were evaluated. ResultsPatients with a moderate/severe CSVD burden showed lower RVD values in the para-fovea and peri-fovea areas of the left DRCP than patients with none/mild burden (para-fovea, β coefficient= −0.185 [−0.351~−0.015], P = 0.003; peri-fovea, β coefficient= −0.113 [−0.208~−0.018], P = 0.021). The RVD values in the para-fovea and peri-fovea areas of the left DRCP were significantly associated with the CSVD burden score after adjusting for age and vascular risk factors (P = 0.030 and P = 0.021, respectively) and with severe WMH (para-fovea, R = −0.398, P = 0.005; peri-fovea, R= −0.443, P = 0.001) and BG-PVS (para-fovea, R = −0.445, P = 0.001; peri-fovea, R= −0.396, P = 0.005). Neither para-fovea nor peri-fovea RVD values had a marked association with cognition. ConclusionThe RVD in the left DRCP may reflect the presence of cerebral small vessel lesions and might be a useful tool for predicting the neuroimaging-based burden of CSVD.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
