Sevgi Subasi1, Kubra Demirci Kucuk2, Senar San3, Ayse Cefle3, Ecem Onder Tokuc2, Sibel Balci4, Ayten Yazici3. 1. School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey. sevgiozel_5@hotmail.com. 2. Derince Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Kocaeli, Turkey. 3. School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey. 4. School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in both macular and peripapillary retinal microcirculation in the subclinical period of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to assess the relationship of these changes with disease activity, damage index, renal involvement, and use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). METHODS: Sixty eyes of 60 SLE patients and 60 age-matched, healthy controls were evaluated with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Vessel densities, structural parameters, and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) assesments were made. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between activity and damage index and all regions of both superficial (SCP-VD) and deep capillary plexus vessel densities (DCP-VD) in the SLE group. There were no significant difference between groups in terms of FAZ, structural parameters, and radial peripapillary capillary vessel densities (RPC-VD). The mean SCP-VD and DCP-VD of most regions showed a significant decrease in the SLE group, except for parafovea superior and parafovea temporal. The decrease in vessel density (VD) in the perifoveal regions of DCP-VD in SLE patients was remarkable. DCP-VD showed good specifity and sensitivity in detecting vascular changes in SLE patients with whole image area under the curve (AUC) = 0.671, p < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 0.909, p = 0.009, and perifovea AUC = 0.671, p < 0.001, OR = 0.918, p = 0.012. Similarly, the SCP-VD whole image AUC = 0.609, p = 0.037, and OR = 0.825, p = 0.018 and perifovea AUC = 0.608, p = 0.037, and OR = 0.918, p = 0.012. The DCP-VD of perifovea superior showed a diagnostic accuracy for discrimination between SLE patients with and without nephritis (AUC = 0.671, p = 0.016). The SCP-VD and cumulative dose of HCQ demonstrated significant negative correlation in the SLE group (whole image, r = - 0.332, p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: SLE patients without ocular involvement had vascular changes that were particularly evident in the DCP and primarily in the perifovea. The perifovea superior of DCP had diagnostic utility in patients with nephropathy.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in both macular and peripapillary retinal microcirculation in the subclinical period of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to assess the relationship of these changes with disease activity, damage index, renal involvement, and use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). METHODS: Sixty eyes of 60 SLE patients and 60 age-matched, healthy controls were evaluated with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Vessel densities, structural parameters, and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) assesments were made. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between activity and damage index and all regions of both superficial (SCP-VD) and deep capillary plexus vessel densities (DCP-VD) in the SLE group. There were no significant difference between groups in terms of FAZ, structural parameters, and radial peripapillary capillary vessel densities (RPC-VD). The mean SCP-VD and DCP-VD of most regions showed a significant decrease in the SLE group, except for parafovea superior and parafovea temporal. The decrease in vessel density (VD) in the perifoveal regions of DCP-VD in SLE patients was remarkable. DCP-VD showed good specifity and sensitivity in detecting vascular changes in SLE patients with whole image area under the curve (AUC) = 0.671, p < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 0.909, p = 0.009, and perifovea AUC = 0.671, p < 0.001, OR = 0.918, p = 0.012. Similarly, the SCP-VD whole image AUC = 0.609, p = 0.037, and OR = 0.825, p = 0.018 and perifovea AUC = 0.608, p = 0.037, and OR = 0.918, p = 0.012. The DCP-VD of perifovea superior showed a diagnostic accuracy for discrimination between SLE patients with and without nephritis (AUC = 0.671, p = 0.016). The SCP-VD and cumulative dose of HCQ demonstrated significant negative correlation in the SLE group (whole image, r = - 0.332, p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: SLE patients without ocular involvement had vascular changes that were particularly evident in the DCP and primarily in the perifovea. The perifovea superior of DCP had diagnostic utility in patients with nephropathy.
Authors: Michael F Marmor; Ulrich Kellner; Timothy Y Y Lai; Ronald B Melles; William F Mieler Journal: Ophthalmology Date: 2016-03-16 Impact factor: 12.079