Retinal vessel dilation following repletion of vitamin A deficiency

Exp Eye Res. 2006 Feb;82(2):349-50. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2005.10.001. Epub 2005 Dec 20.

Abstract

We hypothesized that because depletion of vitamin A blocks the initiation of phototransduction, such inhibition of functional activation should lead to decrease retinal metabolism and perfusion. In a case study of a vitamin A-depleted patient, we found that retinal vessel diameters, a surrogate measure of retinal perfusion, increased in concert with the restitution of electroretinographic function following vitamin A supplementation. When normalized to conditions after treatment, the relative magnitude of study parameters at presentation were: scotopic electroretinography B-wave amplitude 1.2%, photopic electroretrinography B-wave amplitude 23%, retinal vein diameter 88%, retinal artery diameter 94%. These observations support that activation of the visual process results in increased retinal metabolism and perfusion.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Electroretinography
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Perfusion
  • Retina / pathology
  • Retinal Vessels / pathology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin A / therapeutic use*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / drug therapy*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / pathology*

Substances

  • Vitamin A