Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) evaluation of macular thickness in untreated new discovered systemic hypertensive patients.

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To investigate by OCT the macular thickness in patients with new discovered and untreated essential arterial hypertension. Methods: 40 new discovered and untreated hypertensive patients (20 eyes) consecutively referred to our out–Patients Clinic were enrolled in the study (age 43.7 ± 0.13 years). Other significant concomitant illness (coronary artery disease, diabetes, renal disease, neoplasm, secondary hypertension) were excluded. Secondary form of hypertension were ruled out by routine laboratory test. Patients with glaucoma, ocular inflammation or who underwent ocular surgery and with axial length (AL) superior to 24 mm were excluded. Macular thickness measured by Stratus OCT using retinal map analysis was compared with the macular thickness of 40 non hypertensive patients. Biomicroscopic fundus examination was performed and vascular changes were recorded. In order to compare macular thickness in the two groups t–test analysis was used. OCT,AL, and age were compared in the two groups. Fundus vascular lesions were compared in the two groups by Chi–Square test. Results: Mean thickness value in the two groups was the following: in the hypertensive group was: 219 microns ± 17.2. In the control group was: 214 ± 21.69). No differences were found in macular thickness in the two groups (p=0.3818). 26% of subjects with hypertension presented fundus vascular lesions. No subjects in the control group presented fundus vascular alterations (p=0.02). Conclusions: Macular thickness does not result to be thicker in the hypertensive patients and it is not to be considered the first retina alteration in these patients.

Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • macula/fovea • retina