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Abstract #11809 Published in IGR 7-1
Retinal vessel diameters and incident open-angle glaucoma and optic disc changes: the Rotterdam study
Ikram MK; de Voogd S; Wolfs RC; Hofman A; Breteler MM; Hubbard LD; De Jong PTInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2005; 46: 1182-1187
PURPOSE: It remains unclear whether reduced retinal blood flow and smaller arterioles, reported to exist in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG), are a cause or a consequence of ganglion cell loss. We examined whether baseline retinal vessel diameters were related to incident open-angle glaucoma (iOAG) or incident optic disc changes in a population-based sample. METHODS: In the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study, baseline diameters of retinal arterioles and venules (1990-1993) were measured in digitized images of 3469 persons (aged 55 years and older) at risk for OAG. The follow-up examinations took place from 1997 to 1999. iOAG was based on the presence of incident glaucomatous visual field loss and/or incident glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Changes in neuroretinal rim, cup area, or vertical cup-to-disc ratio were calculated with a semiautomated image analyzer in 2782 persons. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up time of 6.5 years, 74 participants had iOAG. At baseline, the mean arteriolar diameter was 147.5 ± 14.2μm(SD) and the venular, 222.9 ± 20.0 mum. Neither arteriolar diameters (odds ratio [OR] per SD decrease: 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66-1.03) nor venular ones (OR per SD increase: 1.20; 95% CI: 0.95-1.53) were significantly related to iOAG. Baseline retinal vessel diameters did not predict changes in the optic disc. Additional adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors did not alter these results. CONCLUSIONS: The data show that baseline retinal vessel diameters did not influence the risk of iOAG or incident optic disc changes. These data provide no evidence for a retinal vascular role in the pathogenesis of OAG.
Dr. M.K. Ikram, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Classification:
9.2.2 Other risk factors for glaucoma (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.2 Primary open angle glaucomas)