Retinal vessel diameters and the role of inflammation in cerebrovascular disease

• Published in: Annals of neurology Vol. 61; no. 5; pp. 491 - 495
• Main Authors: De Jong, Frank Jan, Ikram, M. Kamran, Witteman, Jacqueline C. M., Hofman, Albert, De Jong, Paulus T. V. M., Breteler, Monique M. B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.2007; Willey-Liss
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Cerebrovascular Disorders - pathology; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Female; Fibrinogen - metabolism; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Inflammation - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Microcirculation - pathology; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Netherlands; Neurology; Ophthalmoscopy; Phospholipases A - metabolism; Prospective Studies; Retinal Vessels - pathology; Eye; Visual system; Nervous system diseases; Central nervous system disease; Retina; Inflammation; Cerebrovascular disease; Cerebral disorder
• ISSN: 0364-5134; 1531-8249
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.21129

Retinal vessels may provide a way to study the cerebral microcirculation. In particular, larger retinal venular diameters have been associated with cerebrovascular disease. An inflammatory response may underlie this association. In a population‐based cohort study among 5,279 participants aged 55 years or older with graded retinal vessel diameters, we observed that greater serum levels of C‐reactive protein and fibrinogen and greater lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 activity were strongly associated with larger venular diameters. Weaker associations were found with arteriolar diameters. Our findings support the hypothesis that larger retinal venular diameters reflect systemic inflammation and suggest that inflammation is involved in cerebrovascular disease. Ann Neurol 2007