Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
07:23
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
9.2K
Systemic Inflammation and Structural Retinal Damage on OCT in Acute Non-Arteritic Central Retinal Artery Occlusion-A
Aurelia Mihaela Nica1,2, Roxana Elena Ciuntu1,2, Samer Andrei Nica1,3
1Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|April 14, 2026
Summary
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a key indicator of retinal damage severity in central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Higher NLR values correlate with increased ischemic damage, as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Vascular Biology
- Inflammation Research
Background:
- Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an ophthalmic emergency leading to vision loss from retinal ischemia.
- The role of systemic inflammation in CRAO-related retinal damage is not fully understood.
- Investigating systemic inflammatory biomarkers may offer insights into CRAO severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between systemic inflammatory indices and the severity of retinal damage in non-arteritic CRAO.
- To identify key predictors of ischemic severity using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and blood test data.
- To determine if inflammatory markers can predict structural changes in acute CRAO.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 37 patients with non-arteritic CRAO within 168 hours of symptom onset.
- OCT used to classify ischemic severity (mild, moderate, severe) based on inner retinal morphology.
- Calculation of systemic inflammatory indices (NLR, SII, PLR, MLR, SIRI) from admission blood tests.
- Ordinal logistic regression used to analyze associations between inflammatory indices and OCT-defined severity.
Main Results:
- Higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) values correlated with increased CRAO severity (p < 0.05).
- Univariable analysis revealed significant associations for NLR, SII, neutrophil count, white blood cell count, and central macular thickness (CMT).
- Multivariable regression identified NLR (OR=8.398, p=0.007) and CMT (OR=1.052, p=0.001) as independent predictors of greater ischemic damage.
Conclusions:
- The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is the primary systemic inflammatory predictor of OCT-defined severity in acute CRAO.
- Central macular thickness (CMT) provides complementary structural information regarding ischemic damage.
- These findings highlight the importance of systemic inflammation assessment in managing CRAO.
