OBJECTIVE: Grading of hypertension severity by fundoscopic appearance is difficult and inaccurate. We investigated whether essential hypertension (EHT) and malignant phase hypertension (MHT) were associated with quantifiable abnormalities of the topology and architecture of the retinal circulation. METHODS: The topology and architecture of the retinal microvasculature were compared in images from 20 normotensive subjects, 20 patients with EHT and 20 patients with MHT. Digitized retinal photographs were analysed by a novel multiscale image analysis method using a semi-automated program to quantify geometrical and topological properties of arteriolar and venular trees. RESULTS: EHT was associated with an increase in the arteriolar length-to-diameter ratio (P < 0.01). There were also alterations in arteriolar topology indicative of rarefaction, including a marked reduction in the number of terminal branches in EHT (P < 0.01). These changes in the arteriolar network were exaggerated in MHT and there was also increased venular tortuosity and venular rarefaction in MHT compared with normotensive subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension is associated with marked topological alterations in the retinal vasculature, and quantification of these changes may be a useful novel approach to the assessment of target organ damage in hypertension.
OBJECTIVE: Grading of hypertension severity by fundoscopic appearance is difficult and inaccurate. We investigated whether essential hypertension (EHT) and malignant phase hypertension (MHT) were associated with quantifiable abnormalities of the topology and architecture of the retinal circulation. METHODS: The topology and architecture of the retinal microvasculature were compared in images from 20 normotensive subjects, 20 patients with EHT and 20 patients with MHT. Digitized retinal photographs were analysed by a novel multiscale image analysis method using a semi-automated program to quantify geometrical and topological properties of arteriolar and venular trees. RESULTS: EHT was associated with an increase in the arteriolar length-to-diameter ratio (P < 0.01). There were also alterations in arteriolar topology indicative of rarefaction, including a marked reduction in the number of terminal branches in EHT (P < 0.01). These changes in the arteriolar network were exaggerated in MHT and there was also increased venular tortuosity and venular rarefaction in MHT compared with normotensive subjects. CONCLUSIONS:Hypertension is associated with marked topological alterations in the retinal vasculature, and quantification of these changes may be a useful novel approach to the assessment of target organ damage in hypertension.
Authors: Carol Yim-lui Cheung; Ecosse Lamoureux; M Kamran Ikram; M Bayu Sasongko; Jie Ding; Yingfeng Zheng; Paul Mitchell; Jie Jin Wang; Tien Yin Wong Journal: J Diabetes Sci Technol Date: 2012-05-01
Authors: Muhammad Bayu Sasongko; Jie Jin Wang; Kim C Donaghue; Ning Cheung; Paul Benitez-Aguirre; Alicia Jenkins; Wynne Hsu; Mong-Li Lee; Tien Y Wong Journal: Diabetes Care Date: 2010-03-18 Impact factor: 19.112
Authors: Victor T T Chan; Tiffany H K Tso; Fangyao Tang; Clement Tham; Vincent Mok; Christopher Chen; Tien Y Wong; Carol Y Cheung Journal: J Vis Exp Date: 2017-11-06 Impact factor: 1.355