Retinal Microvascular Alterations in Patients with Quiescent Posterior and Panuveitis Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2022 Oct-Nov;30(7-8):1781-1787. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2021.1954200. Epub 2021 Jul 21.

Abstract

Purpose: To quantify retinochoroidal vascular parameters using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCTA) in quiescent posterior and panuveitis.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, subjects with quiescent posterior and panuveitis underwent fundus imaging using SS-OCTA (DRI Triton®, Topcon, Japan). The metrics calculated were fractal dimension (FD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, retinal vascularity index (capillary density index-CDI), and choroidal vascularity index (CVI).

Results: We included 38 eyes of 20 patients, 9 males aged 34.7 ± 10.5 years, 30 eyes of 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, 10 females aged 33.6 ± 8.5 years. Comparing patients with controls, we found a lower FD (p < .001), larger FAZ (p > .001), lower CDI in the superficial plexus (p = .019), and lower CVI (p < .001). We also found lower retinal and choroidal and thicknesses (p < .001 and p = .025, respectively).

Conclusions: Patients with quiescent posterior and panuveitis have a significantly reduced retinochoroidal vascular density compared to healthy control subjects.

Keywords: Optical coherence tomography angiography; choroidal vascularity index; fractal dimension; posterior uveitis; quiescent uveitis.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence*