TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ramoshaba, Nthai E.
A1  - Huisman, Hugo W.
A1  - Lammertyn, Leandi
A1  - Kotliar, Konstantin
A1  - Schutte, Aletta E.
A1  - Smith, Wayne
T1  - Retinal microvasculature and masked hypertension in young adults: the African-PREDICT study
JF  - Hypertension Research
N2  - Masked hypertension is known to induce microvascular complications. However, it is unclear whether early microvascular changes are already occurring in young, otherwise healthy adults. We therefore investigated whether retinal microvascular calibers and acute responses to a flicker stimulus are related to masked hypertension. We used the baseline data of 889 participants aged 20–30 years who were taking part in the African Prospective study on the Early Detection and Identification of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension. Clinic and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure were measured. The central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal vein equivalent were calculated from fundus images, and retinal vessel dilation was determined in response to flicker light-induced provocation. A smaller CRAE was observed in those with masked hypertension vs. those with normotension (157.1 vs. 161.2 measuring units, P < 0.001). In forward multivariable-adjusted regression analysis, only CRAE was negatively related to masked hypertension [adjusted R² = 0.267, β = −0.097 (95% CI = −0.165; −0.029), P = 0.005], but other retinal microvascular parameters were not associated with masked hypertension. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, masked hypertension [OR = 2.333, (95% CI = 1.316; 4.241), P = 0.004] was associated with a narrower CRAE. In young healthy adults, masked hypertension was associated with retinal arteriolar narrowing, thereby reflecting early microvascular alterations known to predict cardiovascular outcomes in later life.
Y1  - 2020
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41440-020-0487-0
SN  - 1348-4214
IS  - 43
SP  - 1231
EP  - 1238
PB  - Springer Nature
CY  - Osaka
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Smith, Wayne
A1  - Kotliar, Konstantin
A1  - Lammertyn, Leandi
A1  - Ramoshaba, Nthai E.
A1  - Vilser, Walthard
A1  - Huisman, Hugo W.
A1  - Schutte, Aletta E.
T1  - Retinal vessel caliber and caliber responses in true normotensive black and white adults: The African-PREDICT study
JF  - Microvascular Research
N2  - Purpose
Globally, a detrimental shift in cardiovascular disease risk factors and a higher mortality level are reported in some black populations. The retinal microvasculature provides early insight into the pathogenesis of systemic vascular diseases, but it is unclear whether retinal vessel calibers and acute retinal vessel functional responses differ between young healthy black and white adults.

Methods
We included 112 black and 143 white healthy normotensive adults (20–30 years). Retinal vessel calibers (central retinal artery and vein equivalent (CRAE and CRVE)) were calculated from retinal images and vessel caliber responses to flicker light induced provocation (FLIP) were determined. Additionally, ambulatory blood pressure (BP), anthropometry and blood samples were collected.

Results
The groups displayed similar 24 h BP profiles and anthropometry (all p > .24). Black participants demonstrated a smaller CRAE (158 ± 11 vs. 164 ± 11 MU, p < .001) compared to the white group, whereas CRVE was similar (p = .57). In response to FLIP, artery maximal dilation was greater in the black vs. white group (5.6 ± 2.1 vs. 3.3 ± 1.8%; p < .001).

Conclusions
Already at a young age, healthy black adults showed narrower retinal arteries relative to the white population. Follow-up studies are underway to show if this will be related to increased risk for hypertension development. The reason for the larger vessel dilation responses to FLIP in the black population is unclear and warrants further investigation.
Y1  - 2020
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mvr.2019.103937
SN  - 0026-2862
VL  - 128
IS  - Article 103937
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  -