Retinal vascular caliber associated with cardiac and renal target organ damage in never-treated hypertensive patients

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between retinal vascular caliber and target organ damage in hypertensive patients (HT). Methods Data were collected on cardiac, renal, vascular and retinal variables in 88 consecutive never-treated HT subjects. Retinal vascular calibers were measured from fundus photographs by using a semi-automated computer-assisted program and summarized as central retinal artery and vein equivalent (CRAE, CRVE). Results Mean CRAE and CRVE were significantly lower in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (left ventricular mass ≥ 110 g/m² for women, 125 g/m² for men) than those with normal left ventricular (CRAE: 129.4±3.7 vs 138.2±2.3 μm; p= 0.04; CRVE: 195.6±4.4 vs 209.8±2.7μm; p=0.008). CRAE and CRVE were negatively correlated with urinary albumin excretion (β±SE =-15.4±3.2, p<0.0001 and β ±SE= -11.9±4.4, p=0.001, respectively) but were not correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (p=0.21 and p=0.75, respectively), carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (p=0.24 and p=0.14) or carotid augmentation index (p=0.43 and p=0.16). Conclusion In never-treated HT patients, reduced CRAE and CRVE were associated with cardiac and renal preclinical damage, i.e. left ventricular hypertrophy and albuminuria, but not estimated glomerular filtration rate or vascular stiffness. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.