The Assessment of Radial Peripapillary Capillary Vessel Density in Adult Children of Patients With Primary Open Angle
Serdar Bayraktar1, Gözde Hondur1, Mehmet Ali Şekeroğlu1
1The University of Health Sciences, Ulucanlar Eye Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Adult children of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients show reduced radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPCVD), suggesting early microvascular changes. This finding in high-risk individuals warrants further investigation into potential vascular alterations.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Vascular Biology
- Glaucoma Research
Background:
- Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
- Early detection and understanding of POAG pathogenesis are crucial for intervention.
- Family history is a significant risk factor for POAG development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPCVD) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness.
- To assess these parameters in healthy adults with a parental history of POAG versus controls.
- To identify potential early ocular changes in individuals at high risk for POAG.
Main Methods:
- Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used for evaluation.
- RPCVD and RNFL thickness were measured in the peripapillary region and quadrants.
- Study included 30 adult children of POAG patients and 30 age-matched controls.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower mean whole image RPCVD and average RPCVD were observed in the POAG offspring group.
- No significant differences in peripapillary RNFL thickness were found between the groups.
- These findings suggest early vascular alterations in individuals with a family history of POAG.
Conclusions:
- Reduced RPCVD in adult children of POAG patients may indicate preclinical vascular changes.
- RNFL thickness was not different, highlighting RPCVD as a potential early biomarker.
- Further longitudinal studies are recommended to confirm the significance of these vascular alterations in POAG risk.
PréCis:
The observed decrease in radial peripapillary capillary vessel density among adult children of individuals with primary open angle glaucoma, in comparison to controls, suggests the possibility of early microvascular alterations in the eyes of these at-risk individuals.
Purpose:
To compare the radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPCVD) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness values of eyes between healthy adults with a maternal or paternal history of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and age-matched healthy controls without a family history of POAG.
Materials And Methods:
RPCVD values and RNFL thicknesses in the peripapillary region and 4 quadrants (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal) were evaluated using optical coherence tomography angiography among 30 adult children of patients with POAG and 30 age-matched healthy controls without a family history of POAG.
Results:
The mean whole image RPCVD (51.6±1.7% vs. 49.8±1.7%, P =0.0006) and average RPCVD (54.7±1.7% vs. 53.2±2.1%, P =0.006) values were significantly lower in the adult children of patients with POAG compared with age-matched healthy controls without a family history of POAG. There was no difference in terms of RNFL thickness values in any region.
Conclusion:
Despite having similar RNFL thickness values to the control group, the observation of lower RPCVD in the eyes of adult children of POAG patients may indicate potential early vascular alterations. The result of the present study encourages further longitudinal studies to determine the potential importance of the underlying vascular alterations in these high-risk individuals.
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