Dataset Information

Structural retinal changes in cerebral small vessel disease.

ABSTRACT: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is an important contributor to cognitive impairment and stroke. Previous research has suggested associations with alterations in single retinal layers. We have assessed changes of all individual retinal layers in CSVD using high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the first time. Subjects with recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) underwent macular and peripapillary retinal imaging using OCT for this case-control study. Number and volume ratio index (WMRI) of white matter lesions (WML) were determined on MRI. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression models. 27 CSVD patients and 9 control participants were included. Ganglion cell layer (GCL) volume was significantly reduced in patients with CSVD compared to age-matched controls (p = 0.008). In patients with CSVD, larger foveal outer plexiform layer (OPL) volume and decreased temporal peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were significantly associated with a higher WMRI in linear regression when controlling for age (p ≤ 0.033). Decreased foveal GCL volume and temporal-inferior RNFL thickness at Bruch's membrane opening (MRW), and increased temporal MRW were associated with a higher WML burden (p ≤ 0.037). Thus, we identified alterations in several OCT layers in individuals with CSVD (GCL, OPL, MRW and RNFL). Their potential diagnostic value merits further study.

SUBMITTER: Langner SM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9166694 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Structural retinal changes in cerebral small vessel disease.

Langner S Magdalena SM Terheyden Jan H JH Geerling Clara F CF Kindler Christine C Keil Vera C W VCW Turski Christopher A CA Turski Gabrielle N GN Behning Charlotte C Wintergerst Maximilian W M MWM Petzold Gabor C GC Finger Robert P RP

Scientific reports 20220603 1

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is an important contributor to cognitive impairment and stroke. Previous research has suggested associations with alterations in single retinal layers. We have assessed changes of all individual retinal layers in CSVD using high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the first time. Subjects with recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) underwent macular and peripapillary retinal imaging using OCT for this case-control study. Number and volume ratio ...[more]

PMID: 35662264

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundCerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a disorder of brain vasculature that causes various structural changes in the brain parenchyma, and is associated with various clinical symptoms such as cognitive impairment and gait disorders. Structural changes of brain arterioles cannot be visualized with routine imaging techniques in vivo. However, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is thought to be a "window to the brain". Thus, retinal vessel parameters may correlate with CSVD characteristic brain lesions and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (CSF) of the neuropathological processes in CSVD like endothelial damage, microglial activation and neuroaxonal damage.MethodsWe applied OCT-based assessment of retinal vessels, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CSF biomarker analysis in a monocentric prospective cohort of 24 patients with sporadic CSVD related stroke and cognitive impairment. MRI lesions were defined according to the STandards for ReportIng Vascular changes on nEuroimaging (STRIVE). Biomarkers were assessed using commercially available ELISA kits. Owing to the unavailability of an age-matched control-group lacking MRI-characteristics of CSVD, we compared the retinal vessel parameters in CSVD patients (73.8 ± 8.5 years) with a younger group of healthy controls (51.0 ± 16.0 years) by using an age- and sex-adjusted multiple linear regression analysis model.ResultsAmong the parameters measured with OCT, the Wall to Lumen Ratio (WLR) but not Mean Wall Thickness (MWT) of the superior branch of the retinal artery correlated significantly with the volume of white matter hyperintensities on MRI (rs = - 0.5) and with CSF-levels of Chitinase 3 like 1 protein (rs = - 0.6), zona occludens 1 protein (rs = - 0.5) and GFAP (rs = - 0.4). MWT and WLR were higher in CSVD than in controls (28.9 μm vs. 23.9 μm, p = 0.001 and 0.32 vs. 0.25, p = 0.001).ConclusionsIn this exploratory study, WLR correlated with the volume of white matter hyperintensities, and markers of vascular integrity, microglial activation, and neuroaxonal damage in CSVD. Further prospective studies should clarify whether retinal vessel parameters and CSF biomarkers may serve to monitor the natural course and treatment effects in clinical studies on CSVD.

Dataset Information

Structural retinal changes in cerebral small vessel disease.

Publications

Structural retinal changes in cerebral small vessel disease.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets