Effect of antihypertensive treatment on retinal microvascular changes in hypertension

Hypertension causes arteriolar narrowing and rarefaction in the retinal circulation, but the extent to which these changes are reversible by antihypertensive treatment is not well studied. We compared the effect of antihypertensive treatment with a calcium-channel-blocker-based regimen and an angiotensin-converting-enzyme-inhibitor-based regimen on the retinal microvasculature.

Twenty-five patients (17 men, age range 24-71 years) with untreated hypertension were randomized to treatment with an amlodipine-based (n = 12) or lisinopril-based (n = 13) regimen in a double-blind, prospective parallel limb trial for 52 weeks. Measurements of blood pressure and the retinal microvasculature were made at baseline and at the end of the study.

Both the amlodipine-based and lisinopril-based treatments reduced blood pressure to similar extents. Blood pressure reduction was associated with a reduction in arteriolar narrowing, a widening of arteriolar branch angle and an increase in arteriolar density. There were no significant differences between the two treatment regimens.

Antihypertensive treatment is associated with improvement in arteriolar narrowing and rarefaction. Improved microvascular structure may contribute to the beneficial effects of antihypertensive treatment in hypertension.