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Publication: Retinal vessel caliber and caliber responses in true normotensive black and white adults: The African-PREDICT study
Smith, W Kotliar, K.E Lammertyn, L Ramoshaba, N.E Vilser, W Huisman, H.W Schutte, A.E
Smith, W
Kotliar, K.E
Lammertyn, L
Ramoshaba, N.E
Vilser, W
Huisman, H.W
Schutte, A.E
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Abstract
Purpose
Globally, a detrimental shift in cardiovascular disease risk factors and a higher mortality level are reported in some black populations. The retinal microvasculature provides early insight into the pathogenesis of systemic vascular diseases, but it is unclear whether retinal vessel calibers and acute retinal vessel functional responses differ between young healthy black and white adults.
Methods
We included 112 black and 143 white healthy normotensive adults (20–30 years). Retinal vessel calibers (central retinal artery and vein equivalent (CRAE and CRVE)) were calculated from retinal images and vessel caliber responses to flicker light induced provocation (FLIP) were determined. Additionally, ambulatory blood pressure (BP), anthropometry and blood samples were collected.
Results
The groups displayed similar 24 h BP profiles and anthropometry (all p > .24). Black participants demonstrated a smaller CRAE (158 ± 11 vs. 164 ± 11 MU, p < .001) compared to the white group, whereas CRVE was similar (p = .57). In response to FLIP, artery maximal dilation was greater in the black vs. white group (5.6 ± 2.1 vs. 3.3 ± 1.8%; p < .001).
Conclusions
Already at a young age, healthy black adults showed narrower retinal arteries relative to the white population. Follow-up studies are underway to show if this will be related to increased risk for hypertension development. The reason for the larger vessel dilation responses to FLIP in the black population is unclear and warrants further investigation.
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Date
2019-10-20
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Publisher
Elsevier
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Keywords
Ethnicity,Light flicker provocation,Race,Retinal vessel caliber,Retinal vessel dynamics
Citation
Smith W, Kotliar KE, Lammertyn L, Ramoshaba NE, Vilser W, Huisman HW, Schutte AE. Retinal vessel caliber and caliber responses in true normotensive black and white adults: The African-PREDICT study. Microvasc Res. 2020 Mar;128:103937. doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2019.103937.