Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
SHR Neuro Krebs Kardio Lipid Stoffw Microb
Louwies, T; Int Panis, L; Alders, T; Bonné, K; Goswami, N; Nawrot, TS; Dendale, P; De Boever, P.
Microvascular reactivity in rehabilitating cardiac patients based on measurements of retinal blood vessel diameters.
Microvasc Res. 2019; 124:25-29
Doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2019.02.006
Web of Science
PubMed
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- Co-Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
- Goswami Nandu
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- Abstract:
- Exercise-based rehabilitation improves general cardiovascular fitness. The impact on the microvascular system has been studied in less detail. We measured changes in retinal blood vessel diameters, as a proxy for microvascular reactivity, in cardiac patients and we assessed the impact of a rehabilitation program on retinal vessel diameters. Cardiac patients (n = 78) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 32) performed an initial maximal endurance cycling test. Patients then participated in a 12-week rehabilitation program with additional endurance tests being performed six and twelve weeks after the initial test. Fundus images were collected immediately before and 0, 5, 10, 15 and 30 min after the endurance test. Widths of retinal blood vessels, represented as Central Retinal Arteriolar/Venular Equivalent (CRAE/CRVE) were calculated from the images. At the start of the rehabilitation program, CRAE and CRVE values of the patients changed immediately after the endurance test with respectively -1.90 μm (95% CI: -3.58; -0.22) and -5.32 μm (95% CI: -7.33; -3.30) compared to baseline values. In contrast, CRAE and CRVE values of healthy controls were respectively increased [3.52 μm (95% CI: 2.34; 4.69)] and decreased [-3.17 μm (95% CI: -5.27; -1.07)]. After six and twelve weeks, CRAE responses of patients immediately after endurance test increased respectively with 5.98 μm (95% CI: 4.25; 7.71) and 4.44 μm (95% CI: 3.18; 5.71). These responses were similar to the microvascular reactions observed in the control group. Arteriolar and venular retinal microvascular responses in cardiac patients were different from the ones of healthy controls. Retinal microvascular response of cardiac patients improved during rehabilitation. Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- Cardiac patients
- Rehabilitation
- Microvasculature
- Retinal blood vessels