Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 primarily affecting the respiratory system which can damage vessels walls virtually in any body district. Changes affecting retinal vessels are a good marker for systemic vascular alterations. This study investigated retinal vessels during the acute phase of COVID-19 and after patients recovery. Fifty-nine eyes from 32 COVID-19 patients and 80 eyes from 53 unexposed subjects were included. Mean arteries diameter (MAD) and mean veins diameter (MVD) were assessed through semi-automatic analysis on fundus color photos at baseline and 6 months later in patients and subjects unexposed to the virus. At baseline MAD and MVD were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared to unexposed subjects (p < 0.0001). Both MAD and MVD significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients at follow-up (from 97.5 +/- 10.9 to 92.2 +/- 11.4 mu m, p < 0.0001 and from 133.1 +/- 19.3 to 124.6 +/- 16.1 mu m, p < 0.0001, respectively). Despite this reduction vessels diameter remained significantly higher in severe COVID-19 patients compared to unexposed subjects. Transient retinal vessels dilation could serve a biomarker for systemic inflammation while long-lasting alterations seen in severe COVID-19 likely reflect irreversible structural damage to the vessels walls and should be further investigated for their possible effects on tissues perfusion and function.
Retinal vessels modifications in acute and post-COVID-19 / A. Invernizzi, M. Schiuma, S. Parrulli, A. Torre, F. Zicarelli, V. Colombo, S. Marini, E. Villella, A. Bertoni, S. Antinori, G. Rizzardini, M. Galli, L. Meroni, A. Giacomelli, &, G. Staurenghi. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 11:1(2021 Sep 29), pp. 19373.1-19373.9. [10.1038/s41598-021-98873-1]
Retinal vessels modifications in acute and post-COVID-19
A. Invernizzi
Primo
;M. SchiumaSecondo
;S. Parrulli;A. Torre;F. Zicarelli;V. Colombo;S. Antinori;M. Galli;A. Giacomelli;G. StaurenghiUltimo
2021
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 primarily affecting the respiratory system which can damage vessels walls virtually in any body district. Changes affecting retinal vessels are a good marker for systemic vascular alterations. This study investigated retinal vessels during the acute phase of COVID-19 and after patients recovery. Fifty-nine eyes from 32 COVID-19 patients and 80 eyes from 53 unexposed subjects were included. Mean arteries diameter (MAD) and mean veins diameter (MVD) were assessed through semi-automatic analysis on fundus color photos at baseline and 6 months later in patients and subjects unexposed to the virus. At baseline MAD and MVD were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared to unexposed subjects (p < 0.0001). Both MAD and MVD significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients at follow-up (from 97.5 +/- 10.9 to 92.2 +/- 11.4 mu m, p < 0.0001 and from 133.1 +/- 19.3 to 124.6 +/- 16.1 mu m, p < 0.0001, respectively). Despite this reduction vessels diameter remained significantly higher in severe COVID-19 patients compared to unexposed subjects. Transient retinal vessels dilation could serve a biomarker for systemic inflammation while long-lasting alterations seen in severe COVID-19 likely reflect irreversible structural damage to the vessels walls and should be further investigated for their possible effects on tissues perfusion and function.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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Scient Rep Retinal vesse modification.pdf
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