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Retinal microvascular signs as biomarkers of cardiovascular disease
Author(s) -
KAWASAKI R
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.6251.x
Subject(s) - retinal , medicine , microcirculation , disease , retina , subclinical infection , population , pathology , ophthalmology , neuroscience , biology , environmental health
Abstract Purpose To review associations of retinal microvascular signs and cardiovascular disease. Methods The retina is a unique site where the in vivo microvasculature can be directly observed and monitored repeatedly over time. Assessing the characteristics of the retinal small arteries and arterioles offers a surrogate means to evaluate associations of changes in the microcirculation in other organs that may be associated with systemic conditions in vivo. Recent advances in retinal photographic imaging techniques have facilitated the development of computer‐assisted methods to measure and quantify subtle variations and abnormalities in the retinal microvasculature. These quantitative assessments have been applied to large populations, of both adults and children, and in community and clinic settings. Results Existing data now convincingly show links between a range of retinal microvascular signs to both clinical and subclinical ocular, cerebro‐vascular, cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes. This presentation will outline the major retinal vascular imaging methods used in large population based studies and provide an overview of novel methods under development. Conclusion Retinal microvascular signs can be biomarkers of cardiovascular disease as well as ocular diseases, independent of traditional risk factors.