Early retinal vascular abnormalities in African-American cocaine users.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether cocaine use is associated with early retinal vascular abnormalities.


METHODS
Population-based cross-sectional study.


METHODS



METHODS
Inner-city neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland.


METHODS
Sixty-eight participants were recruited from an ongoing observational study, investigating cardiovascular complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and cocaine use in African Americans aged between 25 and 54 years. Those with hypertension and known cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases were excluded.


METHODS
Ophthalmoscopic examinations and fundus photography of the retinas of these subjects were performed after pupillary dilation. The largest angle of arterial bifurcation (LAAB), central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE), and central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) were measured by single-masked fundus image examiners.


METHODS
LAAB, CRAE, and CRVE.


RESULTS
Among the 68 study subjects, 52 (76.5%) were chronic cocaine users and 16 (23.5%) were non-cocaine users. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that the LAAB was associated with age and duration of cocaine use of more than 10 years. The LAAB was also inversely associated with very low-density lipoproteins levels. Multivariate analysis indicated a positive association between CRVE and cocaine use. CRAE was also associated with intravenous injection. We confirmed that CRAE was inversely associated with age. HIV infection was not found to be associated with any retinal vascular parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Cocaine use is associated with increased retinal arterial branching angle and venular caliber. The retinal vascular changes provided the first evidence that cocaine use has an effect on the retinal vascular system.
Leung
Ivan Y-F
IY
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Lai
Shenghan
S
Ren
Shiquan
S
Kempen
John
J
Klein
Ronald
R
Tso
Mark O M
MO
Lai
Hong C
HC
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed