PP.12.07] EFFECTS OF AGE, BLOOD PRESSURE AND ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENTS ON RETINAL ARTERIOLES REMODELING ASSESSED BY ADAPTIVE OPTICS

Abstract

Objective: In humans, adaptive optics camera enables precise large scale non-invasive retinal microcirculation evaluation to assess ageing, blood pressure (BP), and antihypertensive treatments respective roles on retinal arterioles anatomy. Retinal arteriolar remodeling comprised BP and age-driven wall thickening as well as BP-triggered lumen narrowing in younger subjects. Adaptive optics has the potential to shed light on risk factors specific remodeling mechanisms in large scale populations.Design and method: We used adaptive optics camera rtx1™ (Imagine-Eyes, Orsay, France) to measure wall thickness, internal diameter and to calculate Wall-to-Lumen Ratio (WLR) and Wall Cross Sectional Area (WCSA) of retinal arterioles. Results: In 1000 subjects, mean wall thickness, lumen diameter and WLR were 23.2 ± 3.9 μm, 78.0 ± 10.9 μm and 0.300 ± 0.054 respectively. BP and age both independently increased WLR by thickening arterial wall. In opposite, hypertension narrowed lumen in younger as compared to older subjects (73.2 ± 9.0 vs. 81.7 ± 10.2 μm; p < 0.001) while age exerted no influence on lumen diameter. In multivariate analysis, hypertension drug regimen was not an independent predictor of any retinal anatomical indices. Diabetes was associated with increased WLR by hypertrophic remodeling with WCSA increase. WLR was not different between males and females but the later exhibited harmonious elevation of both thickness and lumen. Conclusions: Retinal arteriolar remodeling comprised BP and age-driven wall thickening as well as BP-triggered lumen narrowing in younger subjects. Adaptive optics has the potential to shed light on risk factors specific remodeling mechanisms in large scale populations.