Macular vessel densities by optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with intermediate uveitis

• Published in: Indian journal of ophthalmology Vol. 71; no. 1; pp. 153 - 160
• Main Authors: Sezenöz, Almila, Güngör, Sirel, Kurt, Rengin, Gökgöz, Gülşah, Adwan, Noor, Toprak, Uğur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-01-2023; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Angiography; Care and treatment; Cross-Sectional Studies; Development and progression; Edema; Female; Fluorescein Angiography - methods; Humans; Male; Medical examination; Medical imaging; Microvasculature; Optical tomography; Original; Patients; Retina; Retinal Vessels - pathology; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Tomography; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods; Uvea; Uveitis; Uveitis, Intermediate - diagnosis; Young Adult; India; Intermediate uveitis; optical coherence tomography angiography; vascular density
• ISSN: 0301-4738; 1998-3689
• DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1298_22

Purpose: To evaluate the macular microvascular changes in patients with intermediate uveitis (IU) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and to determine the relationship of OCT-A measurements with disease duration and activity. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at the uvea department of a tertiary hospital. Patients with IU (8 women, 8 men; mean age: 28.80 ± 12.80 years) were included in the study. The macular thickness measurements obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Heidelberg Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and macular superficial and deep vessel density (VD) parameters obtained by OCT-A (Avanti RTVue-XR; Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA) were compared with healthy subjects (12 men, 22 women; mean age: 28.40 ± 8.32 years). Eyes with pathology including marked obvious edema in the macula were not included in the study. Results: The macular thickness was found to be higher in the patient group (p < 0.001). The deep and superficial VD measurements in almost all quadrants in both superficial and deep layers were significantly lower in the IU patient group (p < 0.05). Macular thickness was increased in the active state of IU (p = 0.03), however, none of the OCT-A parameters showed a significant difference between active and inactive IU patients (p > 0.05). No correlation was observed between OCT-A parameters and total IU disease duration. Conclusion: Quantitative analyses of macular vascular structures demonstrate significantly reduced VD in both superficial and deep retinal layers in IU patients. Considering the importance of the macula in visual prognosis, OCT-A can provide crucial data for the monitoring and follow-up of IU patients.