Microvascular Alterations Analysis: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Evaluation Of Superficial Capillary Plexus In Retinal Vein Occlusion

Sinan Aptikadir; Desislava Koleva-Georgieva; Nelly Sivkova

doi:10.14748/bro.v68i2.9888

Microvascular Alterations Analysis: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Evaluation Of Superficial Capillary Plexus In Retinal Vein Occlusion

Sinan Aptikadir, Desislava Koleva-Georgieva, Nelly Sivkova

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a method used to detect microvascular changes occurring in the capillary plexuses of the retina in individuals with retinal vein occlusions (RVOs). It enables the quantitative evaluation of parameters related to the vascular network of the macula.
AIM: The aim of this article is to evaluate the microvascular changes detected by OCTA in patients with RVO and compare them with their unaffected eyes and a control group.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 75 eyes were included in the study, divided into three groups: Group 1: eyes with RVO (n=25); Group 2: unaffected eyes of patients with RVO (n=25); and Group 3: a control group (n=25). Quantitative data corresponding to the superficial capillary plexus level were collected from the obtained images using OCTA.
RESULTS: Foveolar avascular zones (FAZ) showed an increase in perimeter and loss of circularity at the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) level in RVO eyes compared to controls. It was observed that RVO patients’ unaffected eyes also showed the same changes. A decrease in vascular and perfusion density was demonstrated not only in the eyes of RVO patients but also in their unaffected eyes. Nonetheless, not all zones of the macula were affected by this decrease.
CONCLUSION: Angio-OCT can be used to evaluate microvascular changes in the macula in patients with RVO. Using the method, both changes to the FAZ have been demonstrated, an increase in the perimeter and disturbances in its circularity, as well as a decrease in vascular density and perfusion density of the macula.

Keywords

retinal vein occlusion, optical coherence tomography angiography, superficial retinal capillary plexus, retinal vascular occlusive diseases

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14748/bro.v68i2.9888