Objective To observe the digital subtraction angiography (DSA) characteristics of ophthalmic artery and its main branches in ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD). Methods The internal carotid arteries, external carotid arteries and ophthalmic arteries of 32 ICVD patients were examined for DSA. The characteristics of ophthalmic artery origin, trail and main branches were observed. Results Among 64 carotid arteries of 32 patients, there was one carotid artery with internal occlusion, there was no severe stenosis in the other 63 carotid arteries. The 63 ophthalmic arteries originated all from supraclinoidal and ophthalmic segments of internal carotid arteries. 58 ophthalmic arteries were single branch from the internal carotid artery. 5 ophthalmic arteries had 2 branches, one come from the internal carotid artery, the other come from the middle meningeal artery (external carotid artery branch ) in 4 cases or from the anterior cerebral artery (carotid artery branch) in 1 case. The main branches of ophthalmic artery included central retinal artery, posterior ciliary artery, lacrimal gland artery, ocular muscular artery; anterior ethmoid artery, posterior ethmoid artery, supraorbital artery, dorsal nasal artery, supratrochlear artery and eyelid artery. The beginning point of each branches were variable. Conclusions Ophthalmic arteries of ICVD patients primary arise from the internal carotid artery. It most often appears as single branch and occasionally as double branches. The beginning points of major branches of ophthalmic artery are variable.
Objective To investigate the relationship between age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (aCCI) and ischemic stroke in patients with ophthalmic artery occlusion (OAO) or retinal artery occlusion (RAO). MethodsA single center retrospective cohort study. Seventy-four patients with OAO or RAO diagnosed by ophthalmology examination in Shenzhen Second People's Hospital from June 2004 to December 2020 were included in the study. The baseline information of patients were collected and aCCI was used to score the patients’ comorbidity. The outcome was ischemic stroke. The median duration of follow-up was 1 796.5 days. According to the maximum likelihood ratio of the two-piecewise COX regression model and the recursive algorithm, the aCCI inflection point value was determined to be 6, and the patients were divided into low aCCI group (＜6 points) and high aCCI group (≥6 points). A Cox regression model was used to quantify the association between baseline aCCI and ischemic stroke. ResultsAmong the 74 patients, 53 were males and 21 were females, with the mean age of (55.22±14.18) (19-84) years. There were 9 patients of OAO and 65 patients of RAO. The aCCI value ranges from 1 to 10 points, with a median of 3 points. There were 63 patients (85.14%, 63/74) in the low aCCI group and 11 patients (14.86%, 11/74) in the high aCCI group. Since 2 patients could not determine the time from baseline to the occurrence of outcome events, 72 patients were included for Cox regression analysis. The results showed that 16 patients (22.22%, 16/72) had ischemic stroke in the future. The baseline aCCI in the low aCCI group was significantly associated with ischemic stroke [hazard ratio (HR)=1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-2.56, P=0.003], and for every 1 point increase in baseline aCCI, the risk of future ischemic stroke increased by 76% on average. The baseline aCCI in the high aCCI group had no significant correlation with the ischemic stroke (HR=0.66, 95%CI 0.33-1.33, P=0.247). ConclusionsaCCI score is an important prognostic information for patients with OAO or RAO. A higher baseline aCCI score predicts a higher risk of ischemic stroke, and the association has a saturation effect.
Objective To observe the ocular hemodynamic changes and flow direction of ophthalmic artery of patients with severe internal carotid stenosis (ICAS) and investigate the relationship between flow direction of ophthalmic artery and degree of stenosis. Methods Forty eyes of 40 patients with unilateral highgrade ICAS (29 eyes, 72.5%) and internal carotid artery occlusion (11 eyes, 27.5%) diagnosed by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) were enrolled in this study. There were 14 eyes (35.0%) with obvious ocular signs of ischemia, 26 eyes (65.0%) without obvious signs of ocular ischemia. The peak systolic velocity (PSV) of central retinal artery (CRA) was measured. The flow direction of the ophthalmic artery was observed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The PSV of CRA in eyes with different flow directions in the ophthalmic artery was comparatively analyzed. The relationship between flow direction of the ophthalmic artery and degree of stenosis was also analyzed. Results The PSV of CRA in ICAS eyes was (6.59plusmn;1.49) cm/s, which was decreased compared to fellow eye (8.95plusmn;1.35) cm/s, the difference was statistically significant (t=-7.24,P＜0.01). The PSV of CRA in eyes with signs of obvious ocular ischemia was (5.84plusmn;1.42) cm/s, which was decreased compared to eyes without signs of obvious ocular ischemia (7.00plusmn;1.39) cm/s, the difference was statistically significant (t=-2.49,P＜0.05). There were 15 eyes (37.5%) with retrograde flow in the ophthalmic artery, 25 eyes (62.5%) with forward flow of ophthalmic artery. The PSV of CRA in eyes with retrograde flow and forward flow of ophthalmic artery were (6.96plusmn;2.09), (7.01plusmn;1.42) cm/s, the difference was not statistically significant (t=-0.09，P＞0.05). Among 15 eyes with retrograde flow of ophthalmic artery, there were five eyes (33.3%) with unilateral high-grade ICAS, 10 eyes (66.7%) with internal carotid artery occlusion. The incidence rate of retrograde flow in the ophthalmic artery in eyes with internal carotid artery occlusion was higher than that in eyes with unilateral high-grade ICAS (P＜0.01). Conclusions The PSV of CRA in eyes with severe ICAS decreased compared to fellow eyes. The PSV of CRA in eyes with signs of obvious ocular ischemia also decreased compared to eyes without obvious signs of ocular ischemia. With the increase of the degree of the internal carotid artery stenosis, the incidence of retrograde flow of ophthalmic artery increased.
Objective To observe the characteristics of collateral circulation blood flow of ipsilateral ophthalmic artery in patients with internal carotid artery occlusion. Methods The imaging data of 20 patients with internal carotid artery occlusion were analyzed retrospectively. There were 11 males and 9 females, aged from 30 to 65 years, with an average age of (45±3) years. All the patients underwent digital subtraction angiography and transcranial Doppler examination, and 6 patients underwent simultaneous magnetic resonance angiography. The blood supply and collateral circulation of the ipsilateral ophthalmic artery were observed . Results All the patients had unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion. The blood supply of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery and ophthalmic artery comes from the collateral circulation between the middle meningeal artery branches of the external carotid artery and the ophthalmic artery in 18 patients (90.0%); it also comes from the anterior communicating artery of the contralateral internal carotid artery in 16 patients (80.0%); and the posterior communicating artery of the contralateral internal carotid artery in 12 patients (60.0%), respectively. Conclusion The blood flow of the ipsilateral ophthalmic artery mainly comes from the middle meningeal artery branch of the ipsilateral external carotid artery, also comes from the anterior and posterior communicating arteries of the contralateral internal carotid artery.
ObjectiveTo observe the characteristics of magnetic resonance angiography of (MRA) ophthalmic artery in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR).MethodsA total of 36 eyes of DR patients (DR group) diagnosed by clinical examination were included in the study. Among them, there were 42 eyes in 21 males and 15 eyes in 15 females. The average age was 55.2 years old. The average duration of diabetes was 7.56 years. All eyes were examined by MRA and fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) in the ophthalmic artery. At the same time, 24 eyes of 12 patients were examined by computed tomography angiography (CTA). Twenty-two healthy volunteers with age and gender matching were selected as the control group. Among them, there were 13 males and 9 females. All patients underwent MRA examination of the ophthalmic artery; at the same time, 5 eyes of 5 eyes were examined by CTA. MRA and CTA were classified into three grades according to the development condition and shape change of the ophthalmic artery. 0 grade : no abnormality; grade Ⅰ: mild lesion; grade Ⅱ: obvious lesion. According to the results of FFA examination, it was divided into no obvious disease stage, background stage, proliferative stage, proliferative stage. The morphological features of the MRA of the ophthalmic artery in the DR group and the control group were compared. The relationship between the MRA grading of the ophthalmic artery and the FFA staging was observed in the DR group. The consistency analysis between the MRA and CTA grades of the ophthalmic artery in the DR group was performed by Kappa test; the relationship between the MRA grade and the FFA staging of the ophthalmic artery was analyzed by Spearson correlation analysis of the same data with two-way ordered attributes.ResultsIn 44 eyes of the control group, the MRA in grade 0 and Ⅰ of the ophthalmic artery were 41 and 3 eyes, respectively; all eyes of the CTA examination of the ophthalmic artery were grade 0. In 72 eyes of the DR group, the MRA in grade 0, Ⅰ, and Ⅱ of the ophthalmic artery were 28, 28, and 16 eyes, respectively. Among the 24 eyes examined by CTA, there were 13, 6, and 5 eyes in grade 0, Ⅰ, and Ⅱ, respectively. In the DR group, the classification of MRA and CTA of the ophthalmic artery was highly consistent (Kappa value = 0.86). There were significant differences in the number of eyes with different grades of MRA in the DR group and the control group (Z=-5.74, P=0.000). In 72 eyes of the DR group, there were 8, 12, 22, and 30 eyes in no obvious disease stage, background stage, proliferative stage, and proliferative stage, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between MRA grading and FFA staging in the DR group (r=0.405, P=0.000).ConclusionsMRA can show the changes of ophthalmic artery morphology and reflect DR staging to a certain extent. It has a high consistency with FFA vascular changes.
ObjectiveTo observe alterations in center retinal thickness (CRT) in patients diagnosed with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) before and after undergoing superselective arterial thrombolysis (IAT) treatment. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From August 2022 to September 2023, 12 patients (12 eyes) diagnosed with CRAO and treated with IAT at the ophthalmology department of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital. Among these patients, there were 8 males (8 eyes) and 4 females (4 eyes), all experiencing unilateral onset. The mean age was (47.00±15.06) years. The mean duration from onset to thrombolysis was (30.00±30.42) h. All eyes underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) assessments; additionally, 6 eyes underwent Fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA). BCVA assessments were conducted using a standard logarithmic chart and transformed into logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) values for statistical analysis. The OCT measured CRT at various locations around the macular fovea (M), including upper (S1, S3), lower (I1, I3), nasal (N1, N3), and temporal (T1, T3) areas at 1 mm and 3 mm distances from the fovea. CRT was defined as the vertical distance between the inner retinal boundary membrane and the inner interface of the retinal pigment epithelial layer. Pre- and post-IAT examinations were performed using the same equipment and methodologies within a 24-hour interval. Changes in CRT at different macular points were compared and observed, while arterial imaging time changes were assessed in 6 eyes that underwent FFA. Paired t-tests were utilized to analyze logMAR BCVA, CRT at different locations, and arterial imaging time pre- and post-treatment. ResultsPrior to IAT treatment, the logMAR BCVA for the affected eye was 3.48±1.42, while the arterial imaging time for the 6 eyes undergoing FFA examination was (27.50±5.47) s. After 24 hours, the logMAR BCVA had improved to 2.35±1.59 for the affected eye, with 9 eyes showing varying degrees of BCVA improvement. The arterial imaging time was (24.17±7.28) s post-treatment. The differences in logMAR BCVA and arterial imaging time before and after treatment were found to be statistically significant (t=2.489, 3.262; P＜0.05). Additionally, the comparison of CRT at S3 (t=2.871), I1 (t=2.325), and T3 (t=3.446) before and after treatment yielded statistically significant differences (P＜0.05). Conversely, the comparison of CRT at S1 (t=1.879), I3 (t=1.915), N1 (t=2.001), N3 (t=1.987), T1 (t=2.180), and M (t=－0.490) showed no statistically significant differences (P＞0.05). ConclusionsIAT treatment for CRAO has been shown to be effective in achieving therapeutic effects by reducing CRT in the macular area. However, the short-term improvement in retinal edema in the macular area is limited.