Arterial Hypertension and the Hidden Disease of the Eye: Diagnostic Tools and Therapeutic Strategies

Nutrients

Maria Vadal๠ Carolina De Ciuceis²  Maria Lorenza Muiesan²  Damiano Rizzoni²  Claudia Agabiti Rosei²  Claudio Ferri³  Rita Del Pinto³  Caterina Carollo⁴  Giuseppe Mulè⁴  Santina Cottone⁴ 

[1] Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic Department, IEMEST, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, PA, Italy;Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Clinica Medica, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, BS, Italy;Internal Medicine and Nephrology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, San Salvatore Hospital, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, AQ, Italy;Unit of Nephrology and Hypertension, Dipartimento PROMISE (Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties), Università di Palermo, 90133 Palermo, PA, Italy;

关键词: hypertension;    microcirculation;    fundus oculi;    optical imaging;    tomography;    optical coherence;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nu14112200

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor that is responsible for a heavy burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A critical aspect of cardiovascular risk estimation in hypertensive patients depends on the assessment of hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD), namely the generalized structural and functional changes in major organs induced by persistently elevated blood pressure values. The vasculature of the eye shares several common structural, functional, and embryological features with that of the heart, brain, and kidney. Since retinal microcirculation offers the unique advantage of being directly accessible to non-invasive and relatively simple investigation tools, there has been considerable interest in the development and modernization of techniques that allow the assessment of the retinal vessels’ structural and functional features in health and disease. With the advent of artificial intelligence and the application of sophisticated physics technologies to human sciences, consistent steps forward have been made in the study of the ocular fundus as a privileged site for diagnostic and prognostic assessment of diverse disease conditions. In this narrative review, we will recapitulate the main ocular imaging techniques that are currently relevant from a clinical and/or research standpoint, with reference to their pathophysiological basis and their possible diagnostic and prognostic relevance. A possible non pharmacological approach to prevent the onset and progression of retinopathy in the presence of hypertension and related cardiovascular risk factors and diseases will also be discussed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown