Effect of aging on retinal artery blood column diameter measured along the vessel axis.
| Autor: | Kotliar KE; Department of Ophthalmology (Augenklinik rechts der Isar), Munich University of Technology, Ismaningerstrasse 22, Munich, Germany. kotliar@lrz.tum.de, Mücke B, Vilser W, Schilling R, Lanzl IM |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | Investigative ophthalmology & visual science [Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci] 2008 May; Vol. 49 (5), pp. 2094-102. |
| DOI: | 10.1167/iovs.07-0711 |
| Abstrakt: | Purpose: To determine whether retinal branch arteries of healthy persons in different age groups show different longitudinal vessel profiles at baseline and during dynamic reaction to flicker stimulation. Methods: Thirty-three healthy subjects (age groups: 21-27 years, 40-59 years, and 60-85 years) were examined with the use of a retinal vessel analyzer. A monochromatic flicker of 12.5 Hz was applied for 60 seconds. Arterial diameters were measured in vessel segments of 1 mm in length to obtain the longitudinal vessel profile. Differences in amplitude and frequency of arterial width changes were characterized by the parameter spectral edge frequency (SEF). Results: SEF was significantly different between the young group and the senior group in each phase of the arterial reaction to flicker (baseline, dilation, constriction, relaxation; P < 0.05; Mann-Whitney U test). No significant difference within any age group was found in any phase of the arterial reaction. No significant difference between the middle-aged and either young or elderly subjects was found at baseline. However, after stimulation, the middle-aged group displayed a significant difference compared with the young group, with values resembling those of the elderly group. Conclusions: In healthy elderly subjects, retinal arteries assumed a significantly less regular longitudinal vessel profile than those of young subjects. Middle-aged subjects assumed a more irregular profile only in the stimulated states of dilation, constriction, and relaxation. Early age-related changes in vessel profile are noted only after metabolic demand. These changes might be a cause for impaired blood flow and blood-vessel wall interaction. |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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