Retinal Vascular Tortuosity in Hypertension

ABSTRACT

We measured actual (A) and the shortest (B) length of nasal and temporal retinal vessels (arterioles and venules) from the optic disc with polaroid color photography. There were 71 eyes in normal blood pressure group and 51 eyes in hypertension group (>or=141/91). By calculation of tortuosity ratio (A/B), tortuosity of the retinal vessels was evaluated in the two groups. The tortuosity ratio of temporal retinal artelY and vein was higher in hypertension group than in normal group (p<0.05), and there was no statistical difference between tortuosity and age. In hypertension group, systolic pressure over 161 mmHg, the tortuosity ratio of the temporal retinal artery was higher than in normal group (pdiastolic pressure. Also, there was no statistical difference between duration of hypertension and tortuosity ratio of the temporal retinal artery. Consequently, it may be helpful for the diagnosis of hypertensive retinopathy to detect the abnormal tortuosity of the retinal vessels, in addition to other retinal vascular changes.