Choriocapillaris alteration in patients with paracentral acute middle maculopathy

Eur J Ophthalmol. 2022 Nov;32(6):3622-3628. doi: 10.1177/11206721221074446. Epub 2022 Feb 22.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate with optical coherence tomography angiography the status of the choriocapillaris in the eyes of patients with resolved paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM).

Methods: Nine patients with unilateral resolved PAMM, 14 age-matched healthy individuals, and 16 age-matched patients with unilateral retinal vein occlusion (RVO) were included. The choriocapillaris flow area, and the number of choriocapillaris flow voids was compared between the eyes of healthy individuals, both eyes of the PAMM patients, and the fellow eyes of unilateral RVO patients.

Results: The number of choriocapillaris flow voids in the unaffected eyes of PAMM patients was statistically significantly higher than in the eyes of healthy individuals (p < 0.001) and in the fellow eyes of unilateral RVO patients (p = 0.022). The choriocapillaris flow area in the unaffected eyes of PAMM patients was statistically significantly lower than in the eyes of healthy individuals (p < 0.001) and in the fellow eyes of unilateral RVO patients (p = 0.019). There was no difference in the status of the choriocapillaris between two eyes of PAMM patients.

Conclusion: Eyes of patients with resolved PAMM have a substantial decrease of choriocapillaris perfusion.

Keywords: choriocapillaris; optical coherence tomography angiography; paracentral acute middle maculopathy; retinal vein occlusion; vessel density.

MeSH terms

  • Choroid / blood supply
  • Fluorescein Angiography / methods
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration*
  • Retinal Diseases*
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion*
  • Retinal Vessels
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods