Abstract

DO.13.12

Adipose persons show reduced dynamic retinal arterial reaction

Seidova S.-F.¹, Kotliar K.¹, Schmidt-Trucksäss A.², Halle M.², Bock A.², Lanzl I.^1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Technical University of Munich, Germany, ²Department of Preventive Sports Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany

Objective: Adiposity and related metabolic disorders are able to change vascular endothelial function. Whether the dynamic reaction to luminance flicker stimulation in retinal branch arteries and veins differs between healthy volunteers and adipose persons with a body mass index of 30-40 kg/m² is investigated using Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA, Fa. IMEDOS, Jena)
Methods: Retinal vessel reactions to flicker stimulation were examined in 16 adipose persons and in 16 age and gender matched medically healthy volunteers. Vessel diameters of retinal vessel segments were assessed with DVA. Baseline measurement was performed for 50 s. Then monochromatic rectangular luminance flicker stimulation (wave lengths: 530-600 nm, frequency: 12,5 Hz, duration: 20 s) was applied for 3 consecutive times.
Results: The mean maximal arterial dilation in the adipose group amounted to 3,4%±2,0% in comparison to the baseline. There was a statistically significant difference in this parameter between adipose persons and the control group (4,9%±1,6%) (p<0,03). Moreover the time to reach maximal dilation was prolonged and the ensuing arterial constriction reduced in the adipose group. Although these were not significant. Venous dilation showed no significant differences between the groups (adipose: 4,3%±2,1%, norm: 5,1%±1,9%).
Conclusions: Functional retinal arterial vessel reaction to flicker stimulation differs between adipose persons and healthy normal-weight subjects of the same age. Maximal dilation as a response to the stimulus is not reached. This might be explained with a different basic vessel tonus as well as with possible increased endothelial dysfunction in adipose persons. Retinal vessels are similar to cerebral vessels in their structure and function. Therefore they might serve as an important indicator of pathologic changes in cerebral vasculature.

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