Abstract
This observational case–control study assessed the differences in choroidal structure between patients with celiac disease and healthy subjects utilizing the choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Seventy-four celiac patients and 67 healthy subjects underwent a complete ophthalmological evaluation, axial length (AL) measurements and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging mode (EDI SD-OCT) evaluation. These images were binarized and choroidal vasculature was analyzed. Choroidal total subfoveal area (TSA), luminal subfoveal area (LSA), stromal subfoveal area (SSA), CVI and subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT) were measured. Furthermore, subfoveal CT, TSA, LSA, SSA, and CVI were also correlated with AL. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups for TSA, LSA, SSA and subfoveal CT, but not for CVI. In celiac patients, a significant correlation was found between AL and TSA, LSA and SSA, but not with CVI. Similar findings were also noticed in the healthy subjects. Thus, celiac patients have a thicker choroid than healthy subjects, regardless of the AL, due to a proportional increase in both the vascular and stromal components, which does not alter the CVI.
Highlights
This observational case–control study assessed the differences in choroidal structure between patients with celiac disease and healthy subjects utilizing the choroidal vascularity index (CVI)
Celiac disease is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder mostly affecting the proximal small intestine. It is caused by autoantibodies produced against tissue transglutaminase that are activated in genetically predisposed people by gluten and gluten-like p roteins[1]
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the differences in choroidal structure between celiac patients and healthy subjects with CVI, trying to better understand the underlying pathogenetic mechanism of celiac disease in ocular manifestations
Summary
This observational case–control study assessed the differences in choroidal structure between patients with celiac disease and healthy subjects utilizing the choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Seventy-four celiac patients and 67 healthy subjects underwent a complete ophthalmological evaluation, axial length (AL) measurements and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging mode (EDI SD-OCT) evaluation. These images were binarized and choroidal vasculature was analyzed. The choroid is a densely vascularized structure that contributes to the greatest supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the outer retina and the retinal pigment e pithelium[8] It is one of the highest blood flow body tissues, and most of its anatomical knowledge derives from postmortem histological s tudies[9,10]. To the best of our knowledge, there has been limited investigation of choroidal vasculature in patients with celiac disease[16,17,18], all of which have provided conflicting results, and none of these previous studies evaluated the CVI
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
