Hypertensive Retinopathy: A Prognostic Factor for Morbidity and Mortality after Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between hypertensive retinopathy (HR) and post ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complications among successfully thrombolysed patients. STUDY DESIGN: A cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Cardiology Unit, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from June 2016 to December 2017. METHODOLOGY: Patients with history of hypertension for at least 5 years who presented with STEMI and were successfully thrombolysed, were included. On the basis of fundoscopy, patients were grouped into no, mild, moderate, and severe hypertensive retinopathy. Primary and secondary endpoints included a composite of death, re-MI, stroke, re-hospitalisation secondary to left ventricular failure, cardiogenic shock, arrhythmia, heart block, and ventricular septal rupture at 30 days and 4 months, respectively. Association between hypertensive retinopathy and post STEMI complications was determined by Chi-square test. Regression model was used to calculate relative risk of complications with hypertensive retinopathy. P <0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients with a mean age of 54.83 ±8.6 years were included in the study. Of these, 49.2% (n=58) were males. Moreover, 38.1% (n=45) of patients were grouped under no HR, 22.8% (n=27) under mild HR, 21.1% (n=25) and 17.7% (n=21) under moderate and severe HR, respectively. Primary endpoints achieved were 0% in no HR group and 19% in severe HR group x² = 18.1, p <0.001). Secondary endpoints were achieved in 2.2% in no HR group and 40.7%, 56% and 100% in mild, moderate and severe HR group, respectively, ( x² = 81.1, p <0.001). HR also increased the relative risk of complications by 3.17 times (p <0.001) and death by 1.75 times (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Hypertensive retinopathy is an independent risk factor for post-acute STEMI complications in successfully thrombolysed patients and increased the relative risk for complications by 3.17 times.

Consideration of hypertensive retinopathy as an important end-organ damage in patients with hypertension.

Longstanding and therapy-resistant hypertension may cause cerebral, renal, cardiac and retinal end-organ damage (EOD). Retinal hypertensive abnormalities are correlated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease in general but are not included in CV risk assessment tools. Research into prevalence and determinants of retinal organ damage, such as hypertensive retinopathy (HR), is scarce. We evaluated the prevalence of HR and the association with other signs of EOD in patients with hypertension. A retrospective observational study was performed in all hypertensive patients referred by a general practitioner to the hypertension clinic at the Diakonessenhuis, Utrecht and Zeist, the Netherlands between 2011 and 2013. A screening of risk factors, albuminuria, left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and retinal fundoscopy was performed. In all, 44% (123/280) of patients referred to the clinic were diagnosed with HR, while 15 and 11% were diagnosed with LVH and microalbuminuria, respectively. Patients with isolated HR consisted of 31% of all patients. When HR was added as a form of EOD, the percentage of patients with a treatment indication increased from 3 to 14%. Patients who were already on treatment goal exhibited a high prevalence of HR (28%), warranting treatment intensification. HR is prevalent in a third of hypertensive patients referred to our clinic, and isolated HR accounts for the majority of (end-) organ damages. Fundoscopy in the evaluation of hypertension might improve the indication for therapy. Furthermore, diagnosing HR could be helpful in selecting patients with hypertension on treatment goal in need of more aggressive treatment.

Hypertensive retinopathy in the end-stage renal failure ­ study case. / Retinopatia nadcisnieniowa w przebiegu schylkowej niewydolnosci nerek ­ opis przypadku.

The case of 26-year-old woman with a transient deterioration of binocular vision secondary to chronic renal failure due to glomerulonephritis is presented. The patient reported the onset of the disease at the age of 2. As her kidney disease was poorly controlled, she developed renal hypertension followed by bilateral hypertensive retinopathy. The patient was hospitalized in the Department of Nephrology, where she received dialyses and her blood pressure was normalised. The follow up in the Ophthalmology Clinic was continued for 9 months. The treatment of her primary disease resulted in a significant resolution of retinopathy and improved her visual acuity.

Um novo olhar da retinopatia hipertensiva: a aplicação prática de novas tecnologias / A new look at hypertensive retinopathy: the practical application of new technologies

O exame de fundo de olho tem importância histórica e mantém sua relevância nos dias atuais, por possibilitar de maneira não invasiva, observar e avaliar o “interior” do corpo humano, além de ser um importante marcador de lesão de órgão-alvo em hipertensos. O surgimento de tecnologias de aquisição de imagens digitais permitiu acessar o fundo de olho de maneira mais simples, com grande definição, muitas vezes não necessitando dilatação da pupila. Isso tornou a observação do fundo de olho, que outrora era realizada apenas por pessoas com treinamento especial, fosse feita com extrema facilidade e quase sem treinamento. Estas “facilidades” permitiram que inúmeros artigos científicos fossem realizados, estabelecendo características do fundo de olho como relevante marcador de lesão de órgão-alvo em hipertensos. A incorporação de tecnologias virtuais na prática da medicina facilitará o acesso dos pacientes, reduzirá custos e certamente irá revolucionar a relação médico-paciente nos próximos anos.

Eye fundus examination is of historical importance, and maintains its relevance nowadays, by enabling non-intrusive observation and evaluation “inside” the human body, as well as being an important marker of target organ damage in hypertensive patients. The emergence of technologies for digital image acquisition have enabled easier access to the eye fundus, with greater definition, and often without having to dilate the pupil. As a result, eye fundusexamination, once carried out only by people with special training, is now performed with extreme ease and almost no training. These “facilities” have led to numerous scientific articles, establishing the characteristics of the eye fundus as a relevant marker of target organ damage in hypertensive patients. The incorporation of virtual technologies into the practiceof medicine will facilitate patient access, reduce costs, and without doubt, revolutionize the doctor-patient relationship in the coming years.

Systemic hypertension and hypertensive retinopathy following PPA overdose in a dog.

A 4 yr old spayed female Labrador retriever was examined 4 hr after ingesting an overdose of phenylpropanolamine (PPA). Clinical signs included anxiety, piloerection, mucosal ulceration, cardiac arrhythmia, mydriasis, and hyphema. Clinicopathologic abnormalities included elevated creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), proteinuria, and pigmenturia. Ventricular tachycardia and severe systemic hypertension were documented. Hyphema and retinal detachment were documented oculus uterque (OU). Phenoxybenzamine, sotalol, and esmolol resolved the ventricular tachycardia, and blood pressure was controlled with nitroprusside. All clinicopathologic and cardiac abnormalities resolved within 7 days, and ocular changes resolved within 1 mo. Monitoring of blood pressure and rapid pharmacologic intervention were successful in controlling hypertension secondary to PPA overdose and minimizing retinal damage.