Fahrettin Akay1, Fatih C Gündoğan2, Umit Yolcu3, Sami Toyran1, Elif Tunç4, Salih Uzun5. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Izmir Military Hospital, Izmir - Turkey. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, GATA Medical School, Ankara - Turkey. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara Mevki Military Hospital, Ankara - Turkey. 4. Department of Cardiology, Izmir Military Hospital, Izmir - Turkey. 5. Department of Ophthalmology, Etimesgut Military Hospital, Ankara - Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and macular thickness changes in young adults with systemic arterial hypertension. METHODS: This study included 80 young patients (age 23.8 ± 2.8 years) with systemic hypertension (sHT) without any known systemic or ocular disease and 80 age-matched (23.5 ± 2.1 years) healthy controls. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, macular thickness, and GCC thickness were measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Mean disease duration was 3.45 ± 1.48 years (range 2-10). Differences in intraocular pressure, body mass index, axial length, and spherical equivalent between the groups were insignificant (p>0.05). The differences in RNFL thickness did not differ between the groups. Patients with sHT had significantly lower central macular thickness (p = 0.037), inner superior macular thickness (p = 0.045), and outer temporal superior and outer temporal inferior GCC (p<0.001 for both). The RNFL thickness did not differ significantly in all quadrants between the groups (p>0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly correlated with inner temporal superior and inner temporal inferior GCC thickness in a negative manner (p<0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Ganglion cell complex thickness decrease is possibly a better retinal marker for hypertensive changes with respect to RNFL and macular thickness.
PURPOSE: To assess retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and macular thickness changes in young adults with systemic arterial hypertension. METHODS: This study included 80 young patients (age 23.8 ± 2.8 years) with systemic hypertension (sHT) without any known systemic or ocular disease and 80 age-matched (23.5 ± 2.1 years) healthy controls. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, macular thickness, and GCC thickness were measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Mean disease duration was 3.45 ± 1.48 years (range 2-10). Differences in intraocular pressure, body mass index, axial length, and spherical equivalent between the groups were insignificant (p&gt;0.05). The differences in RNFL thickness did not differ between the groups. Patients with sHT had significantly lower central macular thickness (p = 0.037), inner superior macular thickness (p = 0.045), and outer temporal superior and outer temporal inferior GCC (p&lt;0.001 for both). The RNFL thickness did not differ significantly in all quadrants between the groups (p&gt;0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly correlated with inner temporal superior and inner temporal inferior GCC thickness in a negative manner (p&lt;0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Ganglion cell complex thickness decrease is possibly a better retinal marker for hypertensive changes with respect to RNFL and macular thickness.