Abstract
PurposeInvestigation of retinal morphological alterations in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Materials and MethodsThirty PV patients (group 1) who were followed-up at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Hospital, Department of Hematology, and 30 normal subjects (group 2) who applied to Ophthalmology Department for routine eye examination were enrolled in this cross-sectional, single-centered study. Following a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, all participants underwent spectral-domain OCTA examination with Angio Retina mode (6x6 mm). Data were compared between groups for statistical significance.RESULTSThe male-to-female ratio was 1:1. Mean ages were 46.97±3.20 and 47.42±2.55 years in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P: 0.350). Compared to group 2, group 1 had higher values of superficial whole, parafoveal, deep foveal, perifoveal region vascular density, foveal avascular zone perimeter, and foveal vascular density in 300 μm wide regions around foveal avascular zone values, although there were no statistically significant differences. Further, group 1 had statistically non-significantly decreased flow values and foveal avascular zone area compared to group 2. The superficial foveal vascular density was statistically significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (P: 0.032).CONCLUSIONFor the first time, the present study has revealed association of PV with substantial increase in the vascular density almost all around the foveal region. This suggests consideration of potential hyperviscosity impact on the vessel density during macular microcirculation assessment of patients with PV.