Retinal microvascular development in the first two years

Abstract

The link between in utero and early life insults and the development of chronic illness remains to be fully understood, but there is increasing data to indicate that microvasculature pathology plays an important mechanistic role. Currently available data indicate that retinal microvasculature changes are detectable in children as young as six years of age, however, there are no data for younger children. We present retinal microvasculature measurement from the first two years of life. Retinal images suitable for analysis were available from 18 infants in our proof-of-concept study. The mean and standard deviation (SD) for birth weight and gestation was 3410 (384) g and 39.1(1.4) weeks, respectively. Retinal vessel calibres were summarized as the mean(SD) central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) at six months of age was 156 (32) mu m, increased to 175 (75) mu m by 12 months and a slightly declined by 24 months of age to 168 (50) mu m. In a similar pattern, mean(SD) central retinal venular equivalent (CAVE) at six months was 211 (19) mu m, increased to 238 (25) mu m by 12 months of age followed by a slight decline at 24 months of age to 222 (36) mu m. The arterio-venous ratio and tortuosity index remained the same at 6, 12 and 24 months. Findings from this study could help future investigators better understand early microvasculature changes and adaptation that occur early in life.