Post-remission retinal microvascular and choroidal thickness changes in eyes with Behḉet's disease posterior uveitis: an OCTA longitudinal study

Int Ophthalmol. 2021 Dec;41(12):4163-4174. doi: 10.1007/s10792-021-01968-x. Epub 2021 Jul 29.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the retinal microvascular and choroidal thickness changes in eyes with active Behḉet's disease posterior uveitis and post-remission.

Patients and methods: A prospective longitudinal observational analytic study where patients with active Behḉet's posterior uveitis (BU) were assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and enhanced depth imaging OCT during activity and after remission, for retinal microvascular and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) changes.

Results: 26 eyes of 20 patients were included. With remission of active posterior uveitis, capillary density in both layers increased, only being significant in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) 1.81 ± 3.57% (p = 0.025), while the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area increased by 0.036 ± 0.069 mm (p = 0.023).

Conclusion: OCTA can be used to monitor the activity of Behḉet's posterior uveitis. Comparing the retinal microvascular changes during activity and after remission, the superficial capillary plexus was found to be more indicative of the activity status, while the deep capillary plexus and foveal avascular zone area-being more irreversible-are more useful as prognostic indicators. Subfoveal choroidal thickness, on the other hand, proved to be a consistent indictor of visual function; however, its change doesn't accurately reflect the activity status.

Keywords: Behḉet’s disease; Capillary plexus density; Choroidal thickness; Enhanced depth imaging; Foveal avascular zone; Optical coherence tomography angiography; Uveitis.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Behcet Syndrome*
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retinal Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Uveitis, Posterior* / diagnosis