TITLE:
Biomarkers of Lipid Status and Metabolism in Retinal Hypertensive Disorder
AUTHORS:
Ecaterina Pavlovschi, Djina Borovic, Valeriana Pantea, Leonid Lîsîi, Olga Tagadiuc
KEYWORDS:
TAG, Total Cholesterol, LDL-Chol, HDL-Chol, Hypertensive Retinopathy
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.9 No.4,
April
16,
2021
ABSTRACT: Background. Hypertension (HTN) is a
preventable risk factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hypertensive
retinopathy (HR), its ocular complication, is characterized by progressive
metabolic disorders and structural damage of the retina. Lipids play an
essential role in retina homeostasis, so an alteration of lipid metabolism specific for HTN may be of great
significance in the development of hypertensive retinal injury. The study aimed
to investigate the association between HR, traditional lipid biomarkers
changes, and the atherogenic index, as well as to highlight a possible role of
lipid metabolism markers in HR diagnosis and prognosis.
Methods. A total
of 90 hypertensive patients from the Republic of Moldova, admitted to the
Ovisus Medical Center, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, for a vision check and
firstly diagnosed with HR were recruited in our study. The enrolment period is between February 2018
and December 2019. They were divided into three groups based on fundoscopy,
using Keith-Wagner-Barker grading system of HR—GI: 36 patients; GII: 35 patients; GIII: 19 patients. The level
of serum lipids: triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-Chol, and HDL-Chol was determined, followed by the calculation of the atherogenic index of
plasma. Results are displayed as the median and interquartile
range (IQR). Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk normality tests were
used, followed by Levene’s homogeneity of variance test. The groups were compared
using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. The Spearman
correlation coefficient was calculated (SPSS 23.0): p
Results. It was attested a statistically significant increase of
serum total cholesterol levels between the groups as the HR advanced (p =
0.017). In paired group comparisons, the total cholesterol level in GII
significantly enhanced compared to GI 5.63 (IQR 0.69) mM/L vs. 5.49 (IQR 0.51)
mM/L, p = 0.05 and in GIII compared to GI 5.76 (IQR 0.82) μM/L vs. 5.49 (IQR
0.51) mM/L, p = 0.04, showing a significant weak positive correlation with the
degree of HR (r = 0.292**, p = 0.005). A resembled tendency to increase was
highlighted also in serum TAG levels between groups (p = 0.061), with a
significant weak and positive correlation with the degree of HR (r = 0.249*, p
= 0.018). The results for HDL-Chol, LDL-Chol and atherogenic index were
insignificant.
Conclusion. The study revealed statistically conclusive
changes associated with the HR degree of the TAG and total cholesterol levels
and the absence of changes in plasma
lipoprotein content—LDL-Chol and
HDL-Chol. Extended research is mandatory to conclude the role of lipid
metabolism in the advancement of HR and to ascertain the potential diagnostic
importance of the presented lipid status changes.