Retinal vascular caliber is associated with cardiovascular biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation: the POLA study.
OBJECTIVE
Retinal vascular caliber has been linked with increased cardiovascular risk and is predictive of cardiovascular pathology, including stroke and coronary heart disease. Oxidative stress, as well as inflammatory mechanisms, plays a major role in the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis, plaque rupture and vascular thrombotic propensity. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between retinal vascular calibers and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, in subjects free of cardiovascular pathology.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis from a community-dwelling cohort comprising 1224 individuals aged 60 years and over, without a history of coronary or peripheral artery disease or stroke. Retinal vascular caliber was measured from fundus photographs using semi-automated standardized imaging software. Oxidative stress was evaluated using plasma superoxide dismutase 2 and glutathione peroxidase (GPx-3) activities, and inflammatory state was assessed using plasma high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and orosomucoid.


RESULTS
In a multivariate model controlling for cardiovascular risk factors, larger retinal arteriolar caliber was independently related to higher level of GPx-3 activity (p = 0.003) whereas larger venular caliber was associated with higher levels of hsCRP (p = 0.0001) and orosomucoid (p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, biomarkers of oxidative stress regulation and inflammation were independently associated with retinal vascular calibers. This suggests that an assessment of retinal vessels may offer early and non-invasive detection of subclinical vascular pathology.
Inserm, U1061, Montpellier, France.
Vincent
V
Daien
Isabelle
I
Carriere
Ryo
R
Kawasaki
Jean-Paul
JP
Cristol
Max
M
Villain
Pierre
P
Fesler
Karen
K
Ritchie
Cecile
C
Delcourt
D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000032:analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D009961:Orosomucoid; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2