Relationship between coronary artery disease and retinal vascular alterations

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequently associated with peripheral vascular disease. In this study we investigated the relationship between CAD and retinal vascular abnormalities in 33 patients (26 men, 12 women, mean age 55±3 years) submitted to selective coronary angiography and retinal fluoroangiography. Coronary arteriograrns were evaluated to assess the presence and number of stenoses determining a lumen narrowing greater than 50% of the basal diameter. Digital quantitative analysis W:lS applied to retinal fluoroangiograms to determine the fluorescence-time curve, the presence of pcripapillar fluorescence and optic disc ischemia. The severity of optic disc ischemia also was evaluated semiquantitatively by assigning a score from 0 to 3. A 72-hour therapy washout was performed before the fluoroangiographic study, and patients with diabetes, systemic hypertension or heart failure were excluded from the protocol.