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. 2017 Jan 18;10(1):109-114.
doi: 10.18240/ijo.2017.01.18. eCollection 2017.

The association between retinal vasculature changes and stroke: a literature review and Meta-analysis

Hui-Qun Wu  1 , Huan Wu  1 , Li-Li Shi  1 , Li-Yuan Yu  1 , Li-Yuan Wang  1 , Ya-Lan Chen  1 , Jin-Song Geng  1 , Jian Shi  2 , Kui Jiang  1 , Jian-Cheng Dong  1
Affiliations

The association between retinal vasculature changes and stroke: a literature review and Meta-analysis

Hui-Qun Wu et al. Int J Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Aim: To determine the association between retinal vasculature changes and stroke.

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for relevant human studies to September 2015 that investigated the association between retinal vasculature changes and the prevalence or incidence of stroke; the studies were independently examined for their qualities. Data on clinical characteristics and calculated summary odds ratios (ORs) were extracted for associations between retinal microvascular abnormalities and stroke, including stroke subtypes where possible, and adjusted for key variables.

Results: Nine cases were included in the study comprising 20 659 patients, 1178 of whom were stroke patients. The retinal microvascular morphological markers used were hemorrhage, microaneurysm, vessel caliber, arteriovenous nicking, and fractal dimension. OR of retinal arteriole narrowing and retinal arteriovenous nicking and stroke was 1.42 and 1.91, respectively, indicating that a small-caliber retinal arteriole and retinal arteriovenous nicking were associated with stroke. OR of retinal hemorrhage and retinal microaneurysm and stroke was 3.21 and 3.83, respectively, indicating that retinal microvascular lesions were highly associated with stroke. Results also showed that retinal fractal dimension reduction was associated with stroke (OR: 2.28 for arteriole network, OR: 1.80 for venular network).

Conclusion: Retinal vasculature changes have a specific relationship to stroke, which is promising evidence for the prediction of stroke using computerized retinal vessel analysis.

Keywords: Meta-analysis; retinal image; stroke; vasculature.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flow chart of study selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Retinal arteriole narrowing and stroke.
Figure 3
Figure 3. DR and stroke.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Retinal arteriovenous nicking and stroke.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Retinal hemorrhage and stroke.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Retinal microaneurysm and stroke.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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