Evidence for the Hepato-Retinal Axis: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Liver health has been reported to be associated with retinal pathology in various ways. These include deposition of retino-toxins, neovascular drive, and disruption of the blood-retina barrier. Extrahepatic synthesis of implicated molecules and hemodynamic changes in liver dysfunction are also considered. The objective was to review the current evidence for and against a hepato-retinal axis that may guide further areas of preclinical and clinical investigation. This was a systematic review. PubMed and Cochrane were queried for English language studies examining the connection between hepatic dysfunction and retinal pathology. Fourteen studies were included and examined out of 604 candidate publications. The studies selected include preclinical studies as well as clinical case series and studies. Several liver pathologies may be linked to retinal pathology as mediated by hepatically synthesized molecules. The hepato-retinal axis may be present and further, targeted studies of the axis are warranted. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:XX-XX.].