Taylor G, Meehan R, Caputo M, Hunter N.
Aviat Space Environ Med. 1989 May; 60: 511.
NASA-Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058.
INTRODUCTION. Previous investigators have attempted to quantitate changes in retinal vascular diameters, using techniques which lacked the precision to measure very subtle alterations in the caliber of retinal vessels. We describe a highly sensitive method to objectively quantitate subtle changes in retinal vessels that was used to investigate the possible role of increased brain hydration (mild vasogenic cerebral edema) in the pathogenesis of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and as an Earth-based model for investigating space adaptation syndrome (SAS). METHODS. Retinal artery and vein widths were measured by digital image analysis using an automated vessel tracking program on 28 separate subjects exposed to hypobaric hypoxia and during cephalad fluid shifts associated with head-down bedrest. RESULTS. Mean vessel width coefficients of variation of <3% were easily achieved from 35 mm retinal photographs using this method. Retinal veins dilated more than arteries at increased altitude but both artery and vein widths were reduced after varied periods of head-down tilt during bedrest. CONCLUSION. Funduscopy combined with digital image analysis provides a sensitive and objective method to detect and quantitate retinal vascular responses of subjects during exposure to novel environments.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Altitude
- Altitude Sickness
- Anoxia
- Arteries
- Bed Rest
- Blood Vessels
- Environment
- Head
- Head-Down Tilt
- Microscopy, Electron
- Photography
- Retinal Artery
- Retinal Vein
- Retinal Vessels
- methods
- NASA Center JSC
- NASA Discipline Number 18-10
- NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology
- NASA Program Biomedical Research
- Non-NASA Center
Other ID:
UI: 102212577
From Meeting Abstracts