OBJECTIVE — To study the association of the inflammatory markers serum amyloid A (SAA)
and C-reactive protein (CRP) with retinal microvascular parameters in hypertensive individuals
with and without type 2 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — This cross-sectional analysis was a substudy
in 711 patients (159 with and 552 without diabetes) of the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes
Trial (ASCOT) based on digital 30-degree images of superior and inferior temporal retinal
fields.
RESULTS — SAA was associated with arteriolar length-to-diameter ratio positively in nondiabetic
patients (Ptrend 0.028) but negatively in diabetic patients (Ptrend 0.005). The difference
was unlikely to be a chance finding (P 0.007 for interaction). Similar results were found
for the association of SAA with arteriolar tortuosity (P 0.05 for interaction). Associations were
less pronounced for CRP and retinal parameters.
CONCLUSIONS — Inflammatory processes are differentially involved in retinal microvascular
disease in diabetic compared with nondiabetic hypertensive individuals.