title: Retinal capillary density in patients with arterial hypertension: 2-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arterial hypertension is known to be an important risk factor for cerebral and cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have demonstrated a decrease of capillary density in the perifoveal network in tandem with decreased capillary flow velocity in patients with essential hypertension. In a prospective study we quantified the retinal microcirculation in order to evaluate the time course of changes in the perifoveal network.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three patients with essential hypertension (mean age 45 +/- 14 years) underwent video-fluorescein angiographic studies at baseline and at 2 years 28 +/- 6 months) thereafter. The angiograms were obtained with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope and were digitally recorded. By means of digital image analysis we quantified off-line the mean area of perifoveal intercapillary areas (PIA) and the mean capillary flow velocity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the patients with hypertension showed significantly increased PIA and a significantly decreased capillary flow velocity compared with reference values. During the follow-up period the capillary flow velocity decreased further significantly, whereas the PIA showed no significant change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The continuous decrease of capillary flow velocity demonstrates a progression of altered microcirculation in patients with essential hypertension whose blood pressure was believed to be well controlled. Further studies with this technique may be useful to determine the influence of antihypertensive therapy and may help to identify patients at risk for cerebrovascular events.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik der Medizinischen Fakultät der RWTH Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kutschbach
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sieveking
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ittel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schulte
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reim
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology