Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026
07:23
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
8.7K
Effect of Circadian Blood Pressure Variations on Retinal Microvascular Structures: Optical Coherence Tomography
Oğuzhan Zengin1, Şule Nur Polat1, Canan Satılmış1
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara 06800, Türkiye.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|October 29, 2025
Summary
Non-dipper blood pressure patterns may impact retinal microvasculature, particularly during early morning hours. This study links nighttime blood pressure fluctuations to retinal vascular density and foveal avascular zone changes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Circadian blood pressure fluctuations, especially the non-dipping pattern, are linked to microvascular disease risk.
- The retina's microvasculature serves as a sensitive indicator of systemic hemodynamic changes.
- Detailed retinal structural analysis across segmented nighttime intervals is lacking, particularly concerning early morning blood pressure surges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess retinal microvascular structures in dipper versus non-dipper individuals using structural optical coherence tomography (OCT).
- To investigate the relationship between segmented nighttime blood pressure parameters and retinal microvascular integrity.
- To explore correlations between retinal parameters and serum biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 60 participants (26 dippers, 34 non-dippers) classified by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
- Structural OCT evaluated superficial and deep capillary plexus densities, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area/perimeter, and flow density (FD) in foveal, parafoveal, and perifoveal regions.
- Nighttime blood pressure (00:00-04:00, 04:00-08:00) and serum biomarkers were analyzed for correlation with retinal parameters.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in retinal microvascular parameters were found between dipper and non-dipper groups.
- Deep capillary densities positively correlated with serum total protein, albumin, and VLDL.
- Systolic and mean arterial pressures during 04:00-08:00 positively correlated with deep retinal vascular densities; FAZ perimeter negatively correlated with pulse pressure variability.
Conclusions:
- This study is among the first to segment nighttime for analyzing circadian blood pressure effects on retinal microvasculature using comprehensive structural OCT.
- Retinal microvascular structure appears associated with blood pressure fluctuations, particularly during the early morning hours (04:00-08:00).
- Analyzing early morning blood pressure may provide supplementary insights into retinal microvascular health assessment.
