Retinal microvasculature alteration in patients with acute pancreatitis: an observational OCTA study

Eur J Med Res. 2025 May 28;30(1):426. doi: 10.1186/s40001-025-02566-8.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate changes in retinal layer thickness and microvascular density in pancreatitis patients using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: The study involved 16 pancreatitis patients and 16 healthy controls. Each participant underwent a superficial OCTA scan, with images divided into nine subregions to compare macular retinal thickness (RT) and superficial vascular density (SVD) between groups.

Results: Pancreatitis patients exhibited reduced retinal thickness in specific macular areas, including inner, full, and outer layers (p < 0.05). Additionally, decreased superficial vascular density was noted in inner superior (IS), outer superior (OS), inner nasal (IN), and outer nasal (ON) regions (p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy for full-layer inner superior, outer superior, and outer inferior thickness with areas under the curve of 0.9429, 0.9233, and 0.9990, respectively.

Conclusions: Pancreatitis is associated with macular retinal thinning and decreased superficial vascular density, offering potential for improved diagnostic imaging.

Keywords: Macular region; Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA); Pancreatitis; Retinal thickness; Superficial vascular density.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microvessels* / diagnostic imaging
  • Microvessels* / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatitis* / complications
  • Pancreatitis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatitis* / pathology
  • ROC Curve
  • Retina / diagnostic imaging
  • Retina / pathology
  • Retinal Vessels* / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinal Vessels* / pathology
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence* / methods