Evaluation of microvasculature alterations in convalescent Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease using optical coherence tomography angiography

• Published in: Eye (London) Vol. 35; no. 7; pp. 1993 - 1998
• Main Authors: Fan, Shipei, Lin, Dan, Hu, Jiajiang, Cao, Junlin, Wu, Ke, Li, Yisha, Liu, Ruru, Dai, Ma-Li, Bao, Zhishu, Wang, Yuqin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.07.2021; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 692/699/249/2510; 692/699/3161/3177; Angiography; Laboratory Medicine; Medical imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microvasculature; Ophthalmology; Perfusion; Pharmaceutical Sciences/Technology; Surgery; Surgical Oncology; Tomography
• ISSN: 0950-222X; 1476-5454
• DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-01210-5

Purpose To evaluate the microvasculature alterations in convalescent Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and to explore the association between microvasculature and the presence of sunset glow fundus (SGF). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 28 VKH patients at convalescent stage and 25 healthy individuals. Both eyes of each participant were enrolled. The VKH patients were classified into two subgroups based on the existence of SGF. OCTA images (3 × 3 mm) were assessed for the data of superficial capillaris plexus (SCP), deep capillaris plexus (DCP), choriocapillaris, and foveal avascular zone (FAZ). Results Compared with healthy control eyes and eyes without SGF, the vessel densities of the SCP and DCP decreased significantly in most regions of eyes with SGF ( p  < 0.0167). No significant difference of vascular perfusion was found between eyes without SGF and control eyes ( p  > 0.05). VKH patients with SGF had slightly increased FAZ area ( p  = 0.067) and decreased choroid flow area ( p  = 0.427) than those in the control group. Conclusion Convalescent VKH patients with SGF showed decreased macular capillary perfusion. OCTA could serve as a sensitive tool to assess the microvasculature alterations of VKH disease.