Effect of Choroidal Vessel Density on the Ellipsoid Zone and Visual Function in Retinitis Pigmentosa Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Abstract Background To evaluate choroidal vascular changes, including choriocapillaris (CC) and middle/large choroidal vessels, in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients using wide-angle optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to determine whether changes in the choroidal vascularity have a relationship with visual function and retinal structural changes. Methods 34 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of RP and 48 controls were recruited. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmologic and imaging examinations, including two types of OCTA (Optovue, 3 × 3 mm, 6 × 6 mm; VG-200, 12 × 12 mm). CC defects were defined according to the choroidal vascular structure in five degrees. To evaluate middle and large choroidal vascular changes, the choroidal vascularity index (CVI), which was the luminance volume to the total choroidal volume, was used. Results Defects of choroidal vascularity of RP eyes were detected in comparison to control eyes. The defects were observed in the CC layer with a concentric or lobular pattern at different degrees. CVI, which was used to reflect middle/large choroidal vascularity, decreased in the perifoveal, pararetinal and periretinal regions in the RP eyes. CC defects degree were correlated with the BCVA (p = 0.001, r = − 0.556), the Humphrey indexes (mean deviation, MD, p < 0.001, r = − 0.673; PVF, p = 0.003, r = − 0.639; 10° mean sensitivity, 10° MS, p = 0.002, r = − 0.651) and microperimetry index (mean sensitivity, MS, p < 0.001, r = − 0.807). The preserved CC area (mean value: 28.65 ± 12.50 mm2) was negatively correlated with MS measured by microperimetry (p = 0.005, r = − 0.449). Ordinary regression analysis revealed that the CC defect degree was associated with the CVI of perifovea (p = 0.002, 95% CI: − 102.14 to − 24.01), the EZ length (p = 0.006, 95% CI: − 0.006 to − 0.001) and the VAD (vascular area density) of the DCP (deep capillary plexus) in the fovea (p = 0.022, 95% CI: 0.038–0.478). No correlations were detected between BCVA and CVI in any retinal regions. No correlations were found between the CVI and the VAD in any retinal regions. Conclusion The choroidal vascularity was widely defected in RP. Choriocapillaris and middle/large choroidal vascularity defects were correlated with each other. Visual function and retinal structural changes were found to be associated with choriocapillaris defects but not with middle/large choroidal vascular defects.

Download Full-text

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Assessed Retinal and Choroidal Microvasculature Features in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa: A Meta-Analysis

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2019/6723917 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ling Ling ◽

Feifei Gao ◽

Qinglin Zhang ◽

Tao He ◽

Yi Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optical Coherence Tomography ◽

Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Vessel Density ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Optical Coherence ◽

Control Groups ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Density Values

Background. The aim of this study was to assess the retinal and choroidal microvasculature features using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Methods. This study was a meta-analysis of relevant published studies that were included after a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. Mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval was used to assess continuous variable outcomes. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the chi-squared test based on the values of P and I2. Results. Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. The vessel density values measured in the superficial and deep foveal zones of RP patients using OCTA were significantly lower than the recorded values in the control groups (MD = −3.58, P=0.04; MD = −4.93, P=0.02, respectively). The superficial and deep parafoveal vessel density values measured with OCTA were also significantly lower in RP patients than in control groups (MD = −9.09, P<0.00001; MD = −10.74, P<0.00001, respectively); for choriocapillaris vessel density, there was no statistically significant difference between RP patients and controls (MD = −1.33, P=0.09). The deep foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was significantly larger in RP patients than in controls (MD = 0.15, P=0.01), whereas there was no significant difference in the superficial foveal avascular zones in the two groups (MD = 0.08, P=0.11). Conclusions. We showed that retinal and choroidal vessels were attenuated in RP patients. Additionally, we revealed that the FAZ was larger in RP patients, especially the deep FAZ. OCTA may become a useful modality in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with RP.

Download Full-text

Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in serpiginous choroiditis

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-310989 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 102 (7) ◽

pp. 991-995 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Daniela Montorio ◽

Chiara Giuffrè ◽

Elisabetta Miserocchi ◽

Giulio Modorati ◽

Riccardo Sacconi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optical Coherence Tomography ◽

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography ◽

Fundus Autofluorescence ◽

Vessel Density ◽

Vascular Density ◽

Optical Coherence ◽

Swept Source ◽

Inflammatory Lesions ◽

Choroidal Vessel ◽

Outer Border

Background/AimsTo analyse choroidal vascular density of affected and non-affected areas in active and inactive serpiginouschoroiditis (SC) by means of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).MethodsIn this cross-sectional and observational study, 22 eyes of 11 patients diagnosed with SC were included. All patients underwent blue-light fundus autofluorescence (spectralis Heidelberg retinalangiography+OCT) and swept-source OCT-A (AngioPlex Elite 9000 SS-OCT, Carl Zeiss Meditech) to analyse qualitative features and choroidal vessel density of areas considered affected, and the inner and the outer border of the lesions. Unaffected areas of otherwise healthy retina have also been studied.ResultsAll inactive inflammatory lesions were characterised by atrophy of choriocapillaris with an impairment of its detectable flow and greater visibility of choroidal vessels. On the other hand, all active inflammatory lesions showed an area of complete absence of decorrelation signal. The pathological border was characterised by a statistically significant lower choroidal vessel density compared with both the outer border and the unaffected area (0.650±0.113 vs 0.698±0.112, (p<0.001)). Although not statistically significant, vessel density of the outer border of inactive lesions was lower than vessel density of unaffected areas (0.650±0.113 vs 0.698±0.112, p=0.441). Active inflammatory lesions showed an area of complete absence of decorrelation signal at the level of the choriocapillaris and whole choroid.ConclusionOCT-A represents a new imaging technique that provides useful information about the leading changes of choroidal vascular network in active and inactive lesions of SC.

Download Full-text

Outer Macular Microvascular Supply in Retinitis Pigmentosa Examined using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1155/2021/5575851 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Mingsheng Hong ◽

Jiquan Wen ◽

Jixian Lou ◽

Jiehui Xu ◽

Tingjun Xu

Keyword(s):

Optical Coherence Tomography ◽

Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography ◽

Vessel Density ◽

Spectral Domain ◽

Optical Coherence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Defect Groups ◽

Significant Difference

Purpose. To determine the vessel density of the superior (SCP) and deep retinal capillary plexuses (DCP) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods. This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 25 eyes of 25 healthy volunteers and 30 eyes of 17 patients with RP were evaluated in this study. The integrity of the ellipsoid zone in the macular fovea was evaluated as an intact or defect using a spectral-domain OCT. Commercial spectral domain coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used to scan the macular region of approximately 3 × 3 mm2. The vessel density in the SCP and DCP were calculated after appropriate layer segmentation and removal of projection artifacts. The central retinal thickness (CRT) was measured with automated software. The vessel densities in the SCP and DCP were compared between different groups using SPSS. Results. A total of 25 eyes of 25 healthy subjects and 30 eyes of 17 patients with RP were evaluated in the study. There was no significant difference in ages between the two groups (F = 0.065 and P = 0.937 ). There was a significant difference in SCP and DCP between the patients with RP and healthy individuals ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 ). The DCP was significantly reduced in the parafovea region between the macular intact and defect groups P < 0.05 , except in the fovea and nasal regions. After linear regression, the DCP/SCP ratio in the whole, fovea, and parafovea regions was closely related to the DCP vessel density P < 0.05 , and CRT in the fovea and parafovea was not related to the whole DCP ( P = 0.186 and P = 0.539 ). Conclusion. The vessel density decreased in patients with RP, especially in the DCP of the parafovea region. A greater loss of capillaries in the DCP was found when the macular region was involved. The DCP/SCP ratio may be an important indicator of RP.

Download Full-text