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Changes in retinal vascular diameters in senior and geriatric cats in association with variation in systemic blood
Andra-Elena Enache1, Ursula M Dietrich2, Oscar Drury3
1North Downs, Specialist Referrals, 3 & 4 The Brewerstreet Dairy Business Park, Brewer Street, Bletchingley, UK.
Insights
Older cats showed narrower retinal blood vessels, suggesting potential links to hypertension. Further research is needed to confirm if these vascular changes can predict high blood pressure in felines.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Ophthalmology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Early detection of arterial hypertension is crucial for preventing organ damage.
- Retinal arteriolar narrowing is a known predictor of hypertension in humans.
- This study explores retinal vascular changes in aging cats with varying blood pressure levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate retinal vessel diameters in senior and geriatric cats with different systolic blood pressure (SBP) statuses.
- To evaluate retinal vascular changes in hypertensive cats before and after treatment.
- To assess the correlation between age, blood pressure, and retinal vascular parameters in cats.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational study involving 102 senior and geriatric cats (aged 9.1-22 years).
- Cats were categorized into five groups based on SBP and presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- Retinal fundus images were analyzed for vascular diameters and bifurcation angles using VAMPIRE-AT software. Treatment effects were assessed post-amlodipine besylate administration.
Main Results:
- Retinal arteriole and venule diameters significantly decreased with increasing age.
- Hypertensive cats exhibited retinal lesions, including intraretinal hemorrhages and exudates.
- Vessel diameters were significantly lower in healthy normotensive cats compared to pre-hypertensive groups. Post-treatment, hypertensive cats showed significant vessel diameter reduction.
Conclusions:
- Advanced age is associated with reduced retinal vascular diameters in cats.
- Further longitudinal studies are necessary to determine if these vascular changes serve as a risk indicator for hypertension in cats.
- Retinal imaging may offer a non-invasive method for assessing cardiovascular health in aging felines.
Objectives:
Early diagnosis of arterial hypertension is essential to prevent target organ damage. In humans, retinal arteriolar narrowing predicts hypertension. This blinded prospective observational study investigated the retinal vessel diameters in senior and geriatric cats of varying systolic blood pressure (SBP) status and evaluated retinal vascular changes in hypertensive cats after treatment.
Methods:
Cats with a median age of 14 years (range 9.1-22 years) were categorised into five groups: group 1, healthy normotensive (SBP <140 mmHg; n = 40) cats; group 2, pre-hypertensive (SBP 140-160 mmHg; n = 14) cats; group 3, cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and normotensive (n = 26); group 4, cats with CKD and pre-hypertensive (n = 13); and group 5, hypertensive cats (SBP >160 mmHg, n = 15). Colour fundus images (Optibrand ClearView) were assessed for hypertensive lesions. Retinal vascular diameters and bifurcation angles were annotated and calculated using the Vascular Assessment and Measurement Platform for Images of the Retina annotation tool (VAMPIRE-AT). When available, measurements were obtained at 3 and 6 months after amlodipine besylate treatment.
Results:
Ten hypertensive cats had retinal lesions, most commonly intraretinal haemorrhages and retinal exudates. Arteriole and venule diameters decreased significantly with increasing age (-0.17 ± 0.05 pixels/year [P = 0.0004]; -0.19 ± 0.05 pixels/year). Adjusted means ± SEM for arteriole and venule diameter (pixels) were 6.3 ± 0.2 and 8.9 ± 0.2 (group 1); 7.6 ± 0.3 and 10.1 ± 0.4 (group 2); 6.9 ± 0.2 and 9.5 ± 0.3 (group 3); 7.4 ± 0.3 and 10.0 ± 0.4 (group 4); and 7.0 ± 0.3 and 9.8 ± 0.4 (group 5). Group 1 arteriole and venule diameters were significantly lower than those of groups 2 and 4. Group 2 arteriole bifurcation angle was significantly narrower than those of groups 1 and 3. Post-treatment, vessel diameters decreased significantly at 3 and 6 months in seven hypertensive cats.
Conclusions And Relevance:
Increased age was associated with reduced vascular diameters. Longitudinal studies are required to assess if vessel diameters are a risk indicator for hypertension in cats.
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