April 2010
Volume 51, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2010
Retinal Vascular Fractals and Diabetic Retinopathy: DRUID Study
M. Yanagi; R. Kawasaki; L. Maple-Brown; E. L. Lamoureux; A. Harper; T. Y. Wong; S. Tatipata; T. Dunbar; K. O'Dea; J. Cunningham
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • M. Yanagi
    Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
  • R. Kawasaki
    Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
  • L. Maple-Brown
    Institute of Advanced Studies, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Australia
  • E. L. Lamoureux
    Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
  • A. Harper
    Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
  • T. Y. Wong
    National University of Singapore, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore
  • S. Tatipata
    Danila Dilba Health Services, Darwin, Australia
  • T. Dunbar
    Health and Science, Charles Darwin University, School of Education, Faculty of Education, Darwin, Australia
  • K. O'Dea
    Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Australia
  • J. Cunningham
    Institute of Advanced Studies, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  M. Yanagi, None; R. Kawasaki, None; L. Maple-Brown, None; E.L. Lamoureux, None; A. Harper, None; T.Y. Wong, None; S. Tatipata, None; T. Dunbar, None; K. O'Dea, None; J. Cunningham, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NHMRC Grant #236207; the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation, the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation; the International Diabetes Institute, Bayer HealthCare; the Cooperative Research Centre for Aborig
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2010, Vol.51, 2090. doi:
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      M. Yanagi, R. Kawasaki, L. Maple-Brown, E. L. Lamoureux, A. Harper, T. Y. Wong, S. Tatipata, T. Dunbar, K. O'Dea, J. Cunningham; Retinal Vascular Fractals and Diabetic Retinopathy: DRUID Study. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2010;51(13):2090.

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Abstract

Purpose: : Fractal analysis is a new concept designed to quantify complex geometry branching patterns. We investigated the association between fractal dimension of the retinal vasculature (Df) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in the Diabetes and Related conditions in Urban Indigenous people in the Darwin region, Northern Australia (DRUID) study.

Methods: : Of the study participants, we identified 94 diabetic patients (mean age ±standard deviation [SD]: 50.9±11.2; female 70 [74.4%]) with good quality photographs for both Df and DR grading. Retinal photographs were assessed by retinal specialist for presence and severity of DR and Df in right eye was measured using standardized grading software (IRIS-Fractal, patent pending). We compared mean Df difference between eyes with or without DR adjusting for possible confounders.

Results: : Mean values (±SD) Df for patients with and without DR were 1.416 (±0.036) and 1.435 (±0.027), respectively; this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.34) after multivariate adjustment. Eyes with severe non-proliferative DR or proliferative DR had (95% confidence interval -0.08, -0.003) smaller Df compared to eyes without DR (p=0.035).

Conclusions: : In indigenous Australian diabetic patients, eyes with severe stage DR have smaller Df compared to eyes without DR Although the study was based on small numbers, the data suggests altered retinal vascular architecture in eyes with advanced DR, and fractal imaging analysis may be useful in understanding vascular patterns in the pathogenesis of DR.

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy 
© 2010, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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