Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Cover Image for Volume 58, Issue 8
June 2017
Volume 58, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2017
Retinal oximetry as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Valgerdur Dora Dora Traustadottir
    Ophthalmology, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Olof Birna Olafsdottir
    Ophthalmology, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
    University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Hrafnhildur Sif Saevarsdottir
    University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Sveinn Hakon Hardarson
    University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Jon Snaedal
    University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Einar Stefansson
    Ophthalmology, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
    University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Valgerdur Dora Traustadottir, None; Olof Olafsdottir, None; Hrafnhildur Sif Saevarsdottir, None; Sveinn Hardarson, Oxymap ehf (C), Oxymap ehf (I), Oxymap ehf (P); Jon Snaedal, None; Einar Stefansson, Oxymap ehf (I), Oxymap ehf (P), Oxymap ehf (S)
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2017, Vol.58, 3103. doi:
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      Valgerdur Dora Dora Traustadottir, Olof Birna Olafsdottir, Hrafnhildur Sif Saevarsdottir, Sveinn Hakon Hardarson, Jon Snaedal, Einar Stefansson; Retinal oximetry as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2017;58(8):3103.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : It has been reported that oxygen saturation in retinal arterioles and venules is higher in patients with Alzheimer's disease compared to healthy individuals. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is often the first stage of Alzheimer's disease. The main purpose was to establish a novel biomarker for Alzheimer's disease useful in its earliest stages. In this study, retinal vessel oxygen saturation of patients diagnosed with MCI was compared to oxygen saturation in healthy controls.

Methods : Retinal vessel oxygen saturation measurement was performed in 42 patients diagnosed with MCI and 42 healthy controls with a noninvasive retinal oximetry imaging using the Oxymap T1 oximeter (Oxymap ehf, Reykjavik, Iceland). The two groups were age and gender matched.

Results : Oxygen saturation in retinal arterioles and venules was higher in patients with cognitive impairment in the stage of MCI compared to healthy controls. In arterioles it was 93.1 ± 3.7% vs. 91.1 ± 3.4% (mean±SD p=0.003) and in venules; 59.6 ± 6.1% vs. 54.9 ± 6.4% (p=0.001). The arteriovenous difference in oxygen saturation was lower in patients with MCI compared to healthy controls, 33.5 ± 4.4% vs 36.2 ± 5.2%, p=0.02.

Conclusions : Einarsdottir et al (2016) reported statistically significant higher retinal arteriolar and venular oxygen saturation in Alzheimer's patients compared with healthy controls. This study confirms and adds to these findings. It indicates that oxygen uptake is decreased in the retina of patients with MCI compared to healthy controls. Retinal physiology may provide an objective biomarker to help with diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease at an earlier stage than possible before.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.

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