Abstract WMP120: Vascular Risk Factor Reduction Is Associated With Corneal Nerve Regeneration In Patients With Tia And Ischemic Stroke

• Published in: Stroke (1970) Vol. 53; no. Suppl_1; p. AWMP120
• Main Authors: Khan, Adnan, AKHTAR, NAVEED, Wadiwala, MUhammad Faisal, Al Qurashi, Albandary, fatima Al-Khawaja, fatima Al-Khawaja, Gad, Hoda, Ponirakis, Georgios, Petropoulos, Ioannis, Saqqur, Maher, Shuaib, Ashfaq, Malik, Rayaz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.02.2022
• ISSN: 0039-2499; 1524-4628
• DOI: 10.1161/str.53.suppl_1.WMP120

Background and PurposeVascular risk factors are associated with transient ischemic attack (TIA), acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and corneal nerve damage. We have assessed if an improvement in vascular risk factors in patients with TIA and AIS is associated with corneal nerve regeneration. MethodsPatients with TIA or AIS and control subjects underwent assessment of clinical and vascular risk factors and corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) at baseline and 1-year follow up. ResultsEighty-one patients with TIA (n=28), AIS (n=53) and control subjects (n=56) were studied. Systolic blood pressure (SBP)(P=0.000), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P=0.000) and HbA1c (P=0.000) were significantly higher and HDL (P=0.000), corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) (P=0.000), corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) (P=0.000) and corneal nerve branch density (CNBD) (P=0.003) were significantly lower in patients with TIA/AIS compared to controls. At follow up, there was a significant decrease in triglycerides (-0.37 mmol/l, P=0.005), total cholesterol (-1.12 mmol/l, P=0.000); LDL-cholesterol (-1.08 mmol/l, P=0.000), SBP (-24.76 mmHg, P=0.000), DBP (-14.24 mmHg, P=0.000) and HbA1c (-0.50 mmol/l, P=0.027) and an increase in HDL (0.10 mmol/l, P=0.010), CNFL (1.48 mm/mm2, P=0.018), CNFD (1.66 no./mm2, P=0.024), and CNBD (26.90 no./mm2, P=0.000). The improvement in lipids and blood pressure was associated with an increase in corneal nerve parameters (P<0.05). ConclusionsAn improvement in vascular risk factors in patients with TIA or AIS is associated with corneal nerve regeneration. CCM could be used to assess the effectiveness of risk factor reduction in patients with TIA or AIS.