Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2025
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
The Eye as the Window to the Heart: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Biomarkers as Indicators of
Rebecca L Kellner1, Alon Harris1, Lauren Ciulla2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Insights
Retinal microvascular changes detected by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) may indicate systemic cardiovascular disease. This non-invasive eye imaging technique offers potential biomarkers for conditions like hypertension and heart failure.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Microvascular alterations are early indicators in many diseases.
- Assessing microvasculature in most organs is challenging due to inaccessibility.
- The eye offers non-invasive visualization of microvasculature, including structure, function, hemodynamics, and metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review published data on OCTA-assessed microvasculature biomarkers.
- To explore the relationship between retinal microvascular changes and systemic cardiovascular disease.
- To evaluate the potential of retinal microvascular biomarkers for detecting major cardiovascular conditions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies utilizing optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
- Analysis of data linking retinal microvascular changes to ocular and systemic diseases.
- Examination of pilot data suggesting correlations between retinal and systemic small vessel damage.
Main Results:
- OCTA has identified reduced capillary densities in retinal diseases like glaucoma.
- Pilot data suggest retinal microvascular changes, particularly in the macula, may reflect systemic small vessel damage.
- Evidence indicates retinal microvascular biomarkers could signal systemic arterial hypertension, atherosclerotic disease, and congestive heart failure.
Conclusions:
- Retinal microvascular biomarkers assessed by OCTA show promise for detecting systemic cardiovascular diseases.
- Non-invasive eye imaging provides a unique window into microvascular health relevant to broader cardiovascular conditions.
- Further research is warranted to establish retinal microvasculature as a reliable indicator of systemic cardiovascular health.
Abstract:
Alterations in microvasculature represent some of the earliest pathological processes across a wide variety of human diseases. In many organs, however, inaccessibility and difficulty in directly imaging tissues prevent the assessment of microvascular changes, thereby significantly limiting their translation into improved patient care. The eye provides a unique solution by allowing for the non-invasive and direct visualization and quantification of many aspects of the human microvasculature, including biomarkers for structure, function, hemodynamics, and metabolism. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) studies have specifically identified reduced capillary densities at the level of the retina in several eye diseases including glaucoma. This narrative review examines the published data related to OCTA-assessed microvasculature biomarkers and major systemic cardiovascular disease. While loss of capillaries is being established in various ocular disease, pilot data suggest that changes in the retinal microvasculature, especially within the macula, may also reflect small vessel damage occurring in other organs resulting from cardiovascular disease. Current evidence suggests retinal microvascular biomarkers as potential indicators of major systemic cardiovascular diseases, including systemic arterial hypertension, atherosclerotic disease, and congestive heart failure.
More Related Videos
07:18Evaluation of Capillary and Other Vessel Contribution to Macular Perfusion Density Measured with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: February 18, 2022
13:07Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression
Published on: January 15, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...