Abstract
Purpose :
Chronic systemic inflammation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) contributes to the development of endothelial dysfunction inducing the formation of atherosclerosis, which is associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Retinal vascular visualization could provide information of structural changes of the microcirculation, thereby predict CVD. We conducted a cross sectional study to assess the possible association between retinal vessels and the cardiovascular risk profile in patients with AS.
Methods :
In October 2018, an (ongoing) cross sectional study was started including patients aged between 50 and 75 years old with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis according to the modified New York criteria, who consecutively attended the Rheumatology outpatient clinic of the VU medical center and the Jan van Breemen institute (Reade). Patients with diabetes mellitus and known cerebrovascular diseases were excluded. Sociodemographic data, disease activity and the cardiovascular risk profile were assessed. Patients were divided into two groups, with and without known cardiovascular risk factors. We measured 5 retinal retinal vascular parameters identified by the Singapore Vessel Assessment (SIVA) software; central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE), central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE), the retinal arteriovenous ratio (AVR), curvature tortuosity arterioles (cTORTa), and curvature tortuosity venules (cTORTv). Groups were compared regarding to the vascular parameters with the Mann Whitney U test.
Results :
Twenty-seven patients, twenty with and seven without known cardiovascular risk factors, were included (median age 60, IQR 55-66, mean disease duration 23±10 years) were included. Vascular parameters did not significantly differ between patients with and without cardiovascular risk factors. Also no correlation has been found between retinal vascular parameters and disease activity.
Conclusions :
In this preliminary analysis no relation was found between the retinal vascular parameters and cardiovascular risk profile in a group of patients with AS.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.