Effect of Circadian Blood Pressure Variations on Retinal Microvascular Structures: Optical Coherence Tomography...

Background and Objectives: Circadian fluctuations in blood pressure, particularly the non-dipping pattern characterized by the absence of a nocturnal decline, are associated with an increased risk of microvascular complications. The retina, as a highly sensitive microvascular tissue, offers a valuable window into systemic hemodynamic alterations. However, the literature lacks detailed structural analyses that evaluate all retinal regions by segmenting nighttime into specific time intervals. Notably, the early morning period (04:00-08:00), during which stress hormones such as cortisol and catecholamines rise physiologically, leads to increased blood pressure that may significantly affect retinal microcirculation. This prospective study aims to assess retinal microvascular structures in dipper and non-dipper individuals using structural optical coherence tomography and to investigate their relationship with blood pressure parameters by dividing nighttime into distinct time segments. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 participants were classified as dipper (n = 26) or non-dipper (n = 34) based on 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring results. Structural optical coherence tomography was used to evaluate superficial and deep capillary plexus densities in the foveal, parafoveal, and perifoveal regions, along with the area and perimeter of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and flow density (FD). Blood pressure values, including systolic, diastolic, mean arterial, and pulse pressure, were recorded during two nighttime intervals (00:00-04:00 and 04:00-08:00), and correlations with retinal parameters were analyzed. Results: No significant differences were observed in retinal microvascular parameters between the dipper and non-dipper groups. Deep capillary densities, particularly in the parafoveal and perifoveal regions, showed significant positive correlations with serum total protein, albumin, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels. Furthermore, systolic and mean arterial pressures measured during the 04:00-08:00 interval demonstrated significant positive correlations with deep retinal vascular densities. The FAZ perimeter was negatively correlated with pulse pressure variability, while FD showed a negative correlation with mean arterial pressure variability. Conclusions: This prospective study is among the first to investigate the effects of circadian blood pressure patterns on retinal microvascular structures by segmenting nighttime into specific intervals and employing comprehensive structural optical coherence tomography across the entire retina. The findings suggest that retinal microvascular structure may be associated with fluctuations in blood pressure. Analyses of blood pressure measurements between 04:00 and 08:00 may offer supplementary insights into the evaluation of retinal microvascular structure.