Impact of fetal growth and preterm birth on the retinal microvasculature in mid-adulthood.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that preterm birth and being born SGA would be associated with changes in retinal microvascular architecture and that these changes would be more marked among those born preterm. We further hypothesized that these microvascular changes would correlate with early markers of CVD in mid-adulthood.


METHODS
The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study included randomly selected children from 5 Finnish University cities. Retinal microvascular architecture of participants born preterm, born at term and SGA and a control group born at term and AGA were compared (aged 34-49 years).


RESULTS
In participants born preterm, arteriolar tortuosity (×10(2)) was higher-means (standard error), 0.06 (0.01) versus 0.04 (0.01), p = 0.001, arteriolar length (pixels) were greater-644.9 (35.9) versus 591.7 (33.5), p = 0.007 and arteriolar diameters (pixels) were narrower-19.9 (0.4) versus 20.3 (0.3), p = 0.034 compared to participants born AGA, after adjustment. In participants born SGA, only arteriolar tortuosity was higher-0.05 (0.01) versus 0.04 (0.01), p = 0.074 compared to participants born AGA.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that being born SGA and in particular preterm birth are associated with changes in retinal microvascular architecture. The prenatal and immediate postnatal environment may contribute to the mechanisms.
Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Sultana Monira
SM
Hussain
Mika
M
Kähönen
Olli T
OT
Raitakari
Michael R
MR
Skilton
Nicholas
N
Witt
Nish
N
Chaturvedi
Nina
N
Hutri-Kähönen
Terho
T
Lehtimäki
Hanna
H
Vaahtoranta-Lehtonen
Markus
M
Juonala
Sumangali
S
Wijetunge
Alun D
AD
Hughes
Simon A
SA
McG Thom
Andrew
A
Metha
Robyn J
RJ
Tapp
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
atherosclerosis; blood pressure; cardiovascular diseases; epidemiology; vasculature