Abstract
PURPOSE: It was demonstrated previously that retinal pulse wave velocity (rPWV)
as a measure of retinal arterial stiffness is increased in aged anamnestically
healthy volunteers compared with young healthy subjects. Using novel methodology
of rPWV assessment this finding was confirmed and investigated whether it might
relate to the increased blood pressure usually accompanying the aging process,
rather than to the aging itself. METHODS: A total of 12 young 25.5-year-old
(24.0-28.8) median(1st quartile-3rd quartile) and 12 senior 68.5-year-old
(63.8-71.8) anamnestically healthy volunteers; and 12 senior 63.0-year-old
(60.8-65.0) validated healthy volunteers and 12 young 33.0-year-old (29.5-35.0)
hypertensive patients were examined. Time-dependent alterations of vessel
diameter were assessed by the Dynamic Vessel Analyzer in a retinal artery of each
subject. The data were filtered and processed using mathematical signal analysis
and rPWVs were calculated. RESULTS: rPWV amounted to 1200 (990-1470) RU (relative
units)/s in the hypertensive group and to 1040 (700-2230) RU/s in anamnestically
healthy seniors. These differed significantly from rPWVs in young healthy group
(410 280-500 RU/s) and in validated healthy seniors (400 320-510 RU/s). rPWV
associated with age and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the pooled cohort
excluded validated healthy seniors. In a regression model these associations
remain when alternately adjusted for MAP and age. When including validated
healthy seniors in the pooled cohort only association with MAP remains.
CONCLUSIONS: Both aging (with not excluded cardiovascular risk factors) and mild
hypertension are associated with elevated rPWV. rPWV increases to a similar
extent both in young mildly hypertensive subjects and in aged anamnestically
healthy persons. Healthy aging is not associated with increased rPWV.
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