scholarly journals Study of the retina and optic nerve microvascular bed using optical coherence tomography-angiography in post-COVID-19 patients

2022 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 21-32
Author(s):  
V. А. Turgel ◽  
S. N. Tultseva

Introduction. Signs of angioretinopathy are revealed in 7–27.7 % of post-COVID-19 patients. Optical coherence tomographyangiography (OCT-A) allows performing life-time evaluation of structural and microvascular retinal changes in patients after the new coronavirus infection. Aim. To investigate and to compare main microcirculatory parameters of capillary retinal and optic nerve plexuses using OCT-A in patients after COVID-19 of different severity degree. Materials and methods. The main group consisted of 54 people (108 eyes), who recovered from COVID-19 during 3 preceding months. According to the COVID-19 course severity degree, patients were divided into 3 sub-groups. 22 healthy volunteers (44 eyes) were included in the control group. All patients underwent OCT-A. In the angiography regimen, entire vascular density (VD) and that of every sector in the limits of superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses, radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC), and in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ). Results. All over parameters investigated no significant differences between control group patients and those of the sub-group with mild COVID-19 course. In patients with moderately severe infectious process course a significant decrease in VD SCP (P<0.01), as well as decrease in VD RPC (P<0.01). In patients with severe and critically severe disease course there was an decrease of VD DCP in the foveal area (P=0.016) and VD FAZ (P<0.01). VD indices correlations with thickness of retinal layers, in which these vascular plexuses are located. In any of the groups, there was no statistically significant enlargement of the FAZ area and no structural optic disc changes. Conclusion. In post-COVID-19 patients, there are signs of capillary blood flow reduction in retinal SCP and RPC, which is proportional to the prior infection severity degree. Associated to COVID-19 microangiopathy is a significant ophthalmologic sign of the new coronavirus infection. Microvascular changes of the retina could play a role of of a new biomarker reflecting the severity degree of the entire vascular system impairment in COVID-19.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 251584141989205
Author(s):  
Emine Esra Karaca ◽  
Dilay Ozek ◽  
Ahmet Omma ◽  
Ozlem Evren Kemer

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the macular ultrastructure measuring by optical coherence tomography angiography in adult patients with Familial Mediterranean fever. Methods: Participants were 62 Familial Mediterranean fever patients and 54 healthy individuals in control group with similar age and sex. The superficial and deep vascular plexus structures covering the central fovea in an area of 6 mm × 6 mm were measured using AngioVue images taken with optical coherence tomography angiography. Vasculature structure, foveal avascular zone, acircularity index of foveal avascular zone (the ratio of the perimeter of foveal avascular zone and the perimeter of a circle with the equal area), and superficial and deep retinal plexus densities were measured. Results: The inferior deep vascular density was measured: 49.17% ± 8.59% in Familial Mediterranean fever patients, 55.56% ± 5.92% in the control group. The deep inferior-hemi vascular density was measured: 48.59% ± 10.34% in Familial Mediterranean fever patients, 56.54% ± 8.05% in the control group. Deep inferior and deep inferior-hemi vascular density was significantly reduced in Familial Mediterranean fever patients compared with healthy controls ( p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusion: The vascular abnormalities in optical coherence tomography angiography show subclinical signs of microangiopathy in Familial Mediterranean fever patients. This observation, which can be obtained only through optical coherence tomography angiography, may be an ocular hallmark for Familial Mediterranean fever disease.


2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212096656
Author(s):  
Abdulmutalip Yildirim ◽  
Emin Kurt ◽  
Muhammed Altinisik ◽  
Yildiz Uyar

Introduction: The structural and vascular changes in the retina and choroid in women in the third trimester of pregnancy were analyzed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: Forty women in the third trimester of uncomplicated pregnancy and 40 age-matched healthy women were included. Vascular density (VD) in the superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP/DCP), foveal density (FD), and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area and perimetry measured with OCTA, as well as OCT measurements of central macular thickness (CMT) and choroidal thickness (CT) were compared between the groups. Correlations between structural OCT parameters and vascular OCTA metrics were analyzed. Results: The mean gestational age was 34 (28–41) weeks. Mean age was comparable in the groups ( p = 0.732). The pregnant women had significantly higher parafoveal DCP-VD ( p = 0.015), FAZ area ( p = 0.044), and FD ( p = 0.002). Mean subfoveal CT was 21 µm higher in pregnant women but was not significant ( p = 0.472). There was no difference in CMT ( p = 0.448). FAZ metrics were positively correlated with CT in pregnants and with CMT in the control group ( p < 0.05). Parafoveal VD was negatively correlated with CT in the control group ( p < 0.05). After adjusting for CT and CMT, the significant difference in VD and FD persisted ( p < 0.05), while the difference in FAZ area lost significance ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: Considering the effects of the probable covariant factors CMT and CT, systemic changes in pregnant women in their third trimester may cause an increase in VD in the macula and parafoveal DCP.


2017 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Bulut ◽  
Fatma Kurtuluş ◽  
Onursal Gözkaya ◽  
Muhammet Kazım Erol ◽  
Ayşe Cengiz ◽  
...  

Background/AimsTo identify the retinal vascular pathologies in patients with Alzheimer’s type dementia (ATD) through optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) imaging.MethodsOur study included 26 patients in the patient group, and age-matched and sex-matched 26 subjects in the control group. A detailed ophthalmological and neurological examination was performed for all subjects included in the study. The retinal, choroidal vascular structures and choroidal thickness (CT) of all subjects were analysed in a detailed way with a commercial spectral domain OCTA. Moreover, all participants underwent detailed neurological examination including Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) test to evaluate cognitive function.ResultsIn the group of patients with ATD, the MMSE score was significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.001). The retinal vascular density was significantly lower than that of the control group in all zones (p<0.05). Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was significantly enlarged compared with the control group (p=0.001). CT was significantly lower in the group of patients with ATD (p<0.001). Outer retinal and choroidal flow rates were lower in the group of patients with ATD, while the difference was not significant (p>0.05). Furthermore, significant correlation was found between the MMSE and all vascular density parameters, CT parameter and FAZ tested with OCTA imaging (p<0.05).ConclusionsIn patients with ATD, retinal and choroidal vascular pathologies detected through OCTA imaging can be used as a new biomarker in the early diagnosis of the disease, follow-up of its progression and in investigating the efficacy of the drugs.


QJM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N A H Omran ◽  
A G Salman ◽  
Y A T Farweez ◽  
P S Saif

Abstract Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common diabetic complications, which has become a leading cause for vision loss, mainly because of macular edema and vitreous hemorrhage. Objective Using Optical Coherence Tomography(OCT) and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A) for qualitative and quantitative assessment of retinal vascular density in superficial capillary plexus, quantitative assessment of foveal avascular zone, choroidal vascular density map, assessment of retinal thickness and choroidal thickness in normal individuals and diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR). Patients and Methods This study included 64 eyes. Diabetics and control group were recruited from internal medicine clinic in Misr University for science and Technology Hospital and asked to participate in this study. This study was designed as an observational and cross sectional study in the period from 8/2018 to 2/2019. Results There is decrease in Choroidal vascular density in diabetic patients. There is decrease in retinal thickness in diabetic patients and there is no significant differences in the retinal thickness between control subjects and patients with NDR. Conclusion Our study suggested that OCTA can identify preclinical DR before the manifestation of clinically apparent retinopathy. Our findings highlight the potential role of OCT-A in monitoring and quantifying retinal vascular alterations in diabetes


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212199296
Author(s):  
Safaa Awad-Allah Aboud ◽  
Layla Mohamed Hammouda ◽  
Mohamed Yasser Said Saif ◽  
Samar Said Ahmed

Objective: To investigate the effect of chronic smoking on the macula and optic nerve integrity using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: This prospective, comparative study involved the right eyes of 160 healthy subjects (80 smokers group, and 80 control group). OCTA scanning was performed for all subjects. All macular subfields thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness, superficial and deep macular vessel density, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, and the macular outer retina flow area, were measured and analyzed. Results: The thickness of some macular subfields, inferior GCC, and RNFL was statistically significantly lower in the smokers’ group ( p  < 0.05). The FAZ area was 0.409  ± 0.048 mm2 in the smokers' group and 0.327  ± 0.055 mm2 in the control group ( p  < 0.001). The superficial foveal VD was 31.35  ± 5.79% in the smokers’ group and 33.63  ± 4.78% in the control group ( p  = 0.06). The deep foveal VD was 39.38  ± 4.56% in the smokers’ group and 34.15  ± 6.57% in the control group ( p  ≤ 0.001). The superficial and deep parafoveal VD was 52.09  ± 4.56% and 59.99  ± 2.25% respectively in the smokers’ group, and 54.75  ± 2.30% and 55.58  ± 4.69% respectively in the control group ( p  < 0.05). The macular outer retina flow area was 1.29  ± 0.12 mm2 in the smokers’ group and 1.16  ± 0.11 mm2 in the control group ( p  < 0.001). Conclusion: Chronic smoking affected the integrity of the macula and optic nerve. It decreased the macular VD, enlarged the FAZ, and increased outer retinal flow area.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burcu Polat Gültekin

Abstract Aim To evaluate the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in cases with degenerative and tractional-subtype lamellar macular hole (LMH). Methods Two sub-types of LMH cases were included. Thirty-seven patients had degenerative-subtype, whereas 35 patients had tractional-subtype LMH. Thirty healthy cases were enrolled as control group. Foveal avascular zone (FAZ), retinal vascular densities in superficial, deep capillary and choriocapillaris plexuses were analyzed and compared with fellow eyes and healthy controls using OCTA. Results Mean FAZ area was wider in the degenerative-subtype (0.33±0.14 mm²) than the tractional-subtype (0.24±0.10 mm²) (p=0.04) and control eyes (0.26±0.10 mm2) (p=0.02). Compared with the tractional group, foveal vessel density in the superficial layer was lower in the degenerative group (29.1±6.9% vs.21.9±9.2%, p=0.01). Choriocapillaris vascular density in the parafoveal area was also lower in the degenerative-subtype lamellar macular holes ( 61.8±4.7% vs. 63.2±4.2 %) (p=0.03). The vascular densities in the DCP did not disclose any significant difference between two sub-types (p>0.05). Compared with control eyes, the vascular densities in the superficial, deep and choriocapillaris layers were significantly lower in the LMH subtypes (p<0.05). Conclusion These OCTA changes may indicate a primary or secondary chronic degenerative process affecting the retinal microvascular plexuses in degenerative and tractional lamellar macular holes. The distinction of the pathogenesis is also demonstrated by OCTA and supports the recent change in classification and terminology of this macular pathology.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojtaba Abrishami ◽  
Ramin Daneshvar ◽  
Zahra Emamverdian ◽  
Naser Shoeibi ◽  
Shima Sedighi ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: To quantify the microvasculature density of the optic nerve head (ONH) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) analysis.in patients recovered from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Methods: In a comparative cross-sectional, observational study patients recovered from COVID-19, whom diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed by a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of a nasopharyngeal sample were included in this study. The. OCTA of ONH was performed at least 2 weeks after recovery from systemic COVID-19. Vascular density (VD) of the all vessels (AV) and small vessels (SV) inside the disc and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network density were measured in COVID-19 recovered patients and compared with similar parameters in an age-matched group of normal controls.Results: Twenty-five COVID-19 patients and 22 age-matched normal controls were enrolled in the study and one eye per participant was evaluated. Mean whole image SV VD in the COVID-19 group (49.94 ± 2.22) was not statistically significantly different from that in the control group (49.31 ± 1.93; p-value= 0.308). An increase in RPC VD was found in all AV and SV VD measured, which became statistically significant in whole peripapillary SV VD, peripapillary inferior nasal SV VD, peripapillary inferior temporal SV VD, peripapillary superior nasal SV VD and grid-based AV VD inferior sector (p<0.05 for all comparisons).Conclusion: Unremarkable increase was found in ONH microvasculature in patients who had recovered from COVID-19. These patients may be at risk of ONH vascular complications.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-197
Author(s):  
Pedro Arede ◽  
Joanna Przezdziecka-Dolyk ◽  
Fabian Debowy ◽  
Jacek Olszewski ◽  
Carla Fernandes ◽  
...  

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of the macular vessel density (VD) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in glaucoma quantitatively using the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods: Twenty-five eyes of 13 patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and 12 eyes of 6 healthy participants were enrolled retrospectively. Functional visual field (VF) and structural Spectral-Domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness (RNFLT) were assessed in all participants. OCT-A was performed on a fovea centered, 15x10 degrees, macular region. OCT-A scans were processed with MATLAB software and automatically graded to define FAZ parameters. The parafoveal VD in the superficial and deep retinal vascular plexus (SVP and DVP) was analyzed by quadrant and circular segmented zones. Results: Foveal Avascular Zone -Major Axis Length (p=0.02), Area (p=0.04), Equivalent Diameter (p=0.04) and Perimeter (p=0.04) were significantly larger in glaucoma than the control group. Regarding SVP and DVP, the average macular total VD were lower in glaucoma patients compared to the control group (p<0.01; p<0.01). Additionally, the inner circular region (p=0.04; p<0.01 respectively for SVP and DVP) and all quadrants except for North had a lower VD in glaucoma group compared to the control group. Assessment of the total VD successfully predicted RNFLT (p<0.001) and was significantly associated with the probability of glaucoma (p=0.009). Conclusion: OCT-A parameters, namely the FAZ morphology and the macular VD, were associated with glaucomatous functional and structural changes. The macular VD showed a considerable diagnostic value. It may be a modern biomarker, representing microvascular network disruption of the macular perfusion in glaucoma.


2018 ◽  
Vol 102 (12) ◽  
pp. 1684-1690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Sacconi ◽  
Eleonora Corbelli ◽  
Adriano Carnevali ◽  
Stefano Mercuri ◽  
Alessandro Rabiolo ◽  
...  

AimsTo describe optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) abnormalities of patients with pseudophakic cystoid macular oedema (PCMO) before and after pharmacological resolution, compared with diabetic macular oedema (DMO) and normal eyes.MethodsIn this retrospective, observational study, 44 eyes (30 patients) were included: 15 eyes (15 patients) affected by PCMO; 14 healthy fellow eyes used as negative control group; 15 eyes (15 age-matched and sex-matched patients) with DMO used as positive control group. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination at baseline, including OCT-A scans of the macula through AngioPlex CIRRUS-5000 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, USA). Patients with PCMO and DMO were re-evaluated after the pharmacological resolution of cystoid macular oedema (CMO).ResultsDisruption of parafoveal capillary arcade and cystoid spaces in deep capillary plexus (DCP) were frequent in patients with PCMO and DMO (73% and 100%, 87% and 100%). Capillary abnormalities and non-perfusion greyish areas in DCP were more frequent in DMO (P<0.001 and P=0.014). Patients with PCMO showed a larger foveal avascular zone area in DCP at baseline (P<0.001), which significantly reduced after treatment (P=0.001). Vessel density of full-thickness retina and DCP was reduced in patients with PCMO (P=0.022 and P=0.001), and no changes were observed after treatment. Interestingly, DCP appeared less represented in patients with DMO than PCMO subjects (P=0.001).ConclusionsPatients with PCMO have an impairment of mainly DCP, partially reversible after treatment. Furthermore, we disclosed that different alterations of the retinal vasculature characterise CMO derived from two different diseases, namely PCMO and DMO, and this could be due to their distinct pathophysiology.


2020 ◽  
pp. bjophthalmol-2020-317953
Author(s):  
Miguel Ángel Zapata ◽  
Sandra Banderas García ◽  
Adrián Sánchez ◽  
Anna Falcó ◽  
Susana Otero-Romero ◽  
...  

BackgroundGlobal pandemic SARS-CoV-2 causes a prothrombotic state without fully elucidated effects. This study aims to analyse and quantify the possible retinal microvascular abnormalities.Materials and methodsCase–control study. Patients between 18 and 55 years old with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within the last 3 months were included. Risk stratification: group 1—mild disease (asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic); group 2—moderate disease (required hospital admission with no acute respiratory distress) and group 3—severe disease (subjects who developed an acute respiratory distress were admitted in the intensive care unit and presented interleukin 6 values above 40 pg/mL). Age-matched volunteers with negative serology tests were enrolled to control group. A colour photograph, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) and an angiography using OCT centred on the fovea were performed.ResultsControl group included 27 subjects: group 1 included 24 patients, group 2 consisted of 24 patients and 21 participants were recruited for group 3. There were no funduscopic lesions, neither in the colour images nor in the structural OCT. Fovea-centred vascular density (VD) was reduced in group 2 and group 3 compared with group 1 and control group (control group vs group 2; 16.92 vs 13.37; p=0.009) (control group vs group 3; 16.92 vs .13.63; p=0.026) (group 1 vs group 2; 17.16 vs 13.37; p=0.006) (group 1 vs group 3; 17.16 vs 13.63 p=0.017).ConclusionPatients with moderate and severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia had decreased central retinal VD as compared with that of asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic cases or control subjects.


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