Relation between retinal vessel diameters and carotid artery stenosis patients with cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between retinal vessel diameters and cerebral infarction of carotid artery stenosis patients. Methods Eighty-seven patients (174 eyes) with carotid stenosis were included in this study. There were 49 males and 38 females, with an average age of (65.25±7.85) years. Thirty-four patients were suffered from cerebral infarction (cerebral infarction group), and the other 53 patients had no cerebral infarction (control group). There was no significant difference in age (t=1.916), male rate (χ2=0.142) and carotid stenosis extent (χ2=0.785) between the two groups (P=0.059, 0.706, 0.675). All patients underwent color fundus photography after mydriasis. Retinal vascular caliber measurements were performed using IVAN software. The main parameters were central retinal artery diameter (central retinal artery equivalent, CRAE), the diameter of the central retinal vein (central retinal vein equivalent, CRVE) and the retinal arteriole to venular ratio (AVR). The relationship between retinal vessel diameter and cerebral vascular disease were analyzed with logistic regression analysis. Results In cerebral infarction group, CRVE, CRAE and AVR ratios were (132.90±20.67) μm, (243.47±43.92) μm and 0.56±0.10, while the control group was (145.26±21.59) μm, (224.99±32.35) μm and 0.68±0.13 respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups (t=-2.648, 2.257, -4.631; P<0.05). After correction for risk factors, such as age, smoking history, CRAE reduction and CRVE increases were significantly correlated with cerebral infarction. Conclusion CRAE reduction and CRVE increases are risk factors of cerebral infarction in patients with carotid stenosis, and it is useful in the prediction. Key words: Retinal vessels/physiopathology; Carotid stenosis/complications; Brain infarction/ etiology