Evaluation of optical coherence tomography in patients with coronary artery disease and systemic hypertension
Shikha Bhardwaj, Farhat AbrarAbstract:
BACKGROUND:
Systemic hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) cause widespread vascular and neurodegenerative changes, including in the retina. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers a noninvasive means to visualise these changes, serving as a potential marker of systemic vascular health. Retinal layers like the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (p-RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) are especially vulnerable to vascular damage, making them useful indicators of cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the p-RNFL and GC-IPL thickness among hypertensive individuals with and without CAD and healthy controls.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This prospective observational study included 140 participants divided into three groups: healthy controls (Group A,
RESULTS:
Both p-RNFL and GC-IPL were significantly thinned in hypertensive subjects, especially those with CAD. Group A had the highest mean RNFL (114.11 ± 10.09 μm) and GC-IPL (85.07 ± 2.30 μm), whereas Group C showed the lowest (RNFL: 84.90 ± 11.81 μm; GC-IPL: 105.97 ± 11.72 μm). Differences were significant (
CONCLUSION:
OCT can find early signs of retinal nerve damage related to high blood pressure and CAD, indicating it can be a helpful noninvasive method for checking and tracking heart health risks.