Improvement in Retinal Capillary Rarefaction After Valsartan Treatment in Hypertensive Patients.
Decreased capillary density influences vascular resistance and perfusion. The authors aimed to investigate the influence of the renin-angiotensin receptor blocker valsartan on retinal capillary rarefaction in hypertensive patients. Retinal vascular parameters were measured noninvasively and in vivo by scanning laser Doppler flowmetry before and after 4 weeks of treatment with valsartan in 95 patients with hypertension stage 1 or 2 and compared with 55 healthy individuals. Retinal capillary rarefaction was determined with the parameters intercapillary distance (ICD) and capillary area (CapA). In hypertensive patients, ICD decreased (23.4±5.5 μm vs 21.5±5.6 μm, P<.001) and CapA increased (1564±621 vs 1776±795, P=.001) after valsartan treatment compared with baseline. Compared with healthy normotensive controls (ICD 20.2±4.2 μm, CapA 1821±652), untreated hypertensive patients showed greater ICD (P<.001) and smaller CapA (P=.019), whereas treated hypertensive patients showed no difference in ICD (P=.126) and CapA (P=.728). Therapy with valsartan for 4 weeks diminished capillary rarefaction in hypertensive patients.
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
Agnes
A
Jumar
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.|Department of Pathophysiology, University of Warmia and Mazury Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.
Joanna M
JM
Harazny
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
Christian
C
Ott
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
Iris
I
Kistner
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
Stefanie
S
Friedrich
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany. roland.schmieder@uk-erlangen.de.
Roland E
RE
Schmieder
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000068756:Valsartan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000068756:Valsartan