Subclinical retinal microvascular alterations assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography in children with systemic hypertension

To compare the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) macular and peripapillary vessel density between children with high blood pressure and healthy subjects. A total of 40 eyes of 20 children with hypertension and 40 eyes of 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Capillary vessel density (CVD) in superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) retinal capillary plexus, peripapillary region, and FAZ were analyzed by optical coherence tomography angiography. The mean ages were 15.2 ± 1.5 years (range, 10-18) in patients with hypertension and 14.4 ± 2.8 years (range, 10-18) in healthy controls (P = 0.742). The mean FAZ area measured 0.25 ± 0.10 mm2 in children with hypertension and 0.25 ± 0.09 mm2 in healthy controls (P = 0.765). There was no significant difference between study groups in any measure of the macular SCP (P > 0.05 for all); however, the mean whole image, inferior hemisphere, and para- and perifoveal measurements of the macular DCP were significantly lower in children with hypertension than in controls (P