Retinal Vasculature Reactivity During Flicker Light Provocation, Cardiac Stress and Stroke Risk in Africans: The SABPA Study

Structural and functional similarities exist between the retinal, cerebral and, as previously suggested, the coronary microvasculature. Retinal microvascular structure and functionality (in response to flicker-light-induced-provocation (FLIP)) may relate to coronary artery disease risk and possible...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Translational stroke research 2019-10, Vol.10 (5), p.485-494
Main Authors: Wentzel, Annemarie, Malan, Leoné, Smith, Wayne, von Känel, Roland, Malan, Nicolaas T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
African Continental Ancestry Group
Aged
Biomarkers - blood
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Blood pressure
Cardiology
Cardiovascular disease
European Continental Ancestry Group
Exercise
Female
Heart Diseases - blood
Humans
Immunoassay
Investigations
Male
Microvessels - diagnostic imaging
Middle Aged
Natriuretic Peptide, Brain - blood
Neurology
Neurosciences
Neurosurgery
Original Article
Peptide Fragments - blood
Photic Stimulation
Retinal Vessels - diagnostic imaging
Retinal Vessels - physiopathology
Risk Factors
Stroke
Stroke - blood
Stroke - diagnostic imaging
Stroke - ethnology
Troponin T - blood
Tumor necrosis factor-TNF
Vascular Surgery
White people
Young Adult
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Summary:Structural and functional similarities exist between the retinal, cerebral and, as previously suggested, the coronary microvasculature. Retinal microvascular structure and functionality (in response to flicker-light-induced-provocation (FLIP)) may relate to coronary artery disease risk and possible stroke risk. We investigated associations between retinal vessel structure, functionality and cardiac stress markers (cardiac troponin T [cTnT], amino-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]) to translate these retina–heart relationships to stroke risk. We included 317 African and Caucasian teachers’ (aged 23–68 years), who participated in the Sympathetic Activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans (SABPA) study. Fasting plasma and serum samples for cTnT and NT-proBNP were collected. Retinal vascular calibres were quantified from fundus images and dynamic retinal vessel calibre responses during FLIP. The University of California stroke risk score was applied to assess sub-clinical 10-year stroke risk. cTnT levels were similar in Africans and Caucasians, whereas NT-proBNP levels were lower in Africans. In Africans, a reduced arteriolar calibre and attenuated arteriolar dilation during FLIP was associated with higher cTnT ( p  
ISSN:1868-4483
1868-601X
DOI:10.1007/s12975-018-0673-4