Correlation Between Retrograde Trans-Synaptic Degeneration of Ganglion Cells and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Following Ischemic Stroke

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive tool for imaging and quantifying the retinal and choroidal perfusion state in vivo. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of isometric and dynamic exercise on retinal and choroidal sublayer perfusion using OCTA. A pilot study was conducted on young, healthy participants, each of whom performed a specific isometric exercise on the first day and a dynamic exercise the day after. At baseline and immediately after the exercise, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), superficial capillary plexus perfusion (SCPP), deep capillary plexus perfusion (DCPP), choriocapillaris perfusion (CCP), Sattlers’s layer perfusion (SLP), and Haller’s layer perfusion (HLP) were recorded. A total of 34 eyes of 34 subjects with a mean age of 32.35 ± 7.87 years were included. HR as well as MAP increased significantly after both types of exercise. Both SCPP and DCPP did not show any significant alteration due to isometric or dynamic exercise. After performing dynamic exercise, CCP, SLP, as well as HLP significantly increased. Changes in MAP correlated significantly with changes in HLP after the dynamic activity. OCTA-based analysis in healthy adults following physical activity demonstrated a constant retinal perfusion, supporting the theory of autoregulatory mechanisms. Dynamic exercise, as opposed to isometric activity, significantly changed choroidal perfusion. OCTA imaging may represent a novel and sensitive tool to expand the diagnostic spectrum in the field of sports medicine.

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Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography as a New Tool for Evaluation of the Subclinical Retinal Involvement in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus—A Review

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10132887 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 2887

Author(s):

Małgorzata Mimier-Janczak ◽

Dorota Kaczmarek ◽

Dawid Janczak ◽

Radosław Kaczmarek

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Optical Coherence Tomography ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography ◽

Diagnostic Process ◽

Optical Coherence ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Asymptomatic Patients ◽

Pubmed Database ◽

Lupus Retinopathy

Knowing the proven relationship between lupus retinopathy and systemic changes and disease activity, it is crucial to find the possibility of early diagnosis of retinal changes at a subclinical level in order to provide faster medical intervention and protect the patient from irreversible changes in the eye and other organs. The aim of this review is an analysis of studies investigating early pathological changes in retinal vascularization obtained by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and their relationship to the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A literature search was performed to identify all relevant articles, regarding detection of subclinical retinal changes using OCTA in systemic lupus erythematosus listed in PubMed database. Seven out of seven papers found showed a decrease in superficial capillary plexus in ocular asymptomatic patients diagnosed with SLE. A decrease in retinal vessel density measured by OCTA may be a good marker of SLE activity and poor prognosis. OCTA in a safe manner can give clinicians a new perspective on processes of vessel remodeling and answer the question of how SLE might impact the eye from a structural point of view. Adding OCTA to the standard diagnostic process of SLE patients, may detect systemic changes early and prevent further visual deterioration by stopping progression of lupus retinopathy.

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