Retinal and Choroidal Vascular Alterations in Carotid Dissection Versus Atherosclerosis: Insights Into Divergent Ischemic Mechanisms
Abstract
Background To contrast retinal and choroidal vascular alterations between carotid artery dissection (CAD) and carotid artery stenosis (CAS), and analyze their associations with cerebral infarction patterns and stenosis severity. Methods This observational study included stenotic‐degree‐matched patients with CAD and patients with CAS. Retinal ischemic signs—cotton wool spots, retinal artery occlusion, and paracentral acute middle maculopathy—were evaluated using fovea‐centered optical coherence tomography/angiography. Retinal vascular density and choroidal metrics (choriocapillaris density, thickness, vascular volume, and index) were analyzed. Results The final analysis included 863 eyes from 467 participants (85 with CAD, 274 with CAS, 108 controls). Patients with CAD showed a significantly higher prevalence of paracentral acute middle maculopathy than Patients with CAS (6.4% versus 0.61%, P
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cerebrovascular and Carotid Artery Diseases
Intracranial Aneurysms: Treatment and Complications
Retinal Imaging and Analysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of the American Heart Association
- Publisher
- Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- e048079–e048079
- Publication date
- 6 May 2026
- Language
- EN