Assessing the Correlation Between Retinal Arteriolar Bifurcation Parameters and Coronary Atherosclerosis
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Guangzheng Dai1, Geng Wang2, Sile Yu3
1Dragonfleye Healthcare Technology LLC, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Insights
Retinal arteriolar bifurcations show altered morphology in severe coronary artery disease (CAD). These changes in bifurcation angles may indicate disease severity, offering a potential new diagnostic marker.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
- Retinal microvasculature changes can reflect systemic vascular health.
- Investigating retinal arteriolar bifurcations offers insights into CAD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between retinal arteriolar bifurcation morphology and coronary artery disease (CAD).
- To determine if specific bifurcation parameters correlate with CAD severity.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional observational study of 444 participants.
- Fundus photography to analyze 9625 retinal arteriolar bifurcations.
- Measured vessel diameters, bifurcation angles, and compared to theoretical optimal angles.
Main Results:
- Significant deviations in bifurcation angles were observed in severe CAD patients compared to moderate CAD patients.
- Specifically, a decrease in one angle and an increase in another were noted.
- Adjustments were made for asymmetry ratio, area ratio, and optic disc distance.
Conclusions:
- Retinal arteriolar bifurcation morphology is altered in patients with severe CAD.
- These morphological changes may serve as a potential indicator of CAD severity.
Introduction:
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the morphological parameters of retinal arteriolar bifurcations and coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods:
In this cross-sectional observational study, fundus photography was conducted on 444 participants to capture retinal arteriolar bifurcations. A total of 731 fundus photographs yielded 9625 measurable bifurcations. Analyzed bifurcation parameters included the diameters of the parent vessel (d0), the larger branch (d1), and the smaller branch (d2), as well as the angles (θ1) and (θ2) representing the orientation of each branch in relation to the parent vessel, respectively. Additionally, theoretical optimal angles ( ) and ( ), calculated from the measured parameters, provided a benchmark for ideal bifurcation geometry. The study assessed the variation in these parameters across different levels of coronary atherosclerosis severity.
Results:
After adjusting for anatomical characteristics including the asymmetry ratio, area ratio, and distance to the optic disc, we observed that patients with severe coronary artery stenosis had significant deviations from the theoretical optimal bifurcation angles, with a decrease in ( ) and an increase in ( ) compared to those with moderate stenosis.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest a clear alteration in retinal arteriolar bifurcation morphology among patients with severe CAD, which could potentially serve as an indicator of disease severity.
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