Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in newly diagnosed hypertension patients with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of systemic arterial hypertension in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters and to investigate whether an association exists between nondipper patterns confirmed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and OCTA measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five healthy control patients without hypertension and 90 newly diagnosed hypertension patients were divided into two groups as dipper group (>10% nocturnal blood pressure [BP] fall) and nondipper group (≤10% nocturnal BP fall) according to their nocturnal BP reduction were included to the study. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmological examinations. Retinal and optic disc OCTA findings and ABPM data were obtained prospectively. The vessel density (VD) of the retinal superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus, foveal retinal thickness, radial peripapillary capillary, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The superior quadrant RNFL thickness was significantly lower in both the nondipper and dipper groups than in the control group ( P = 0.014). However, the nondipper group showed a statistically significant increase in optic disc peripapillary capillary VD compared to the dipper and control groups ( P = 0.018). SCP whole and perifoveal VD were significantly lower in the dipper and nondipper groups than in the control group ( P = 0.011 and P = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest an association between nondipper BP pattern and increased optic disc peripapillary VD, as well as lower levels of superior quadrant RNFL thickness. OCTA may be a useful marker for identifying retinal microvascular changes in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.