Abstract
Purpose In the present study, the retinal and choroidal vascular densities (VDs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients were analyzed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods The study included 282 eyes of 152 patients with type 2 DM (114 without retinopathy, 79 nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 48 severe NPDR, and 41 proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) eyes). The superficial and deep retinal vessel, choriocapillaris, and choroidal VDs were measured using a binarization method on OCTA images. VDs were compared based on retinopathy severity. Correlations among densities were analyzed. Results Retinal and choriocapillaris VDs were lower in PDR than in NPDR (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations among densities of superficial and deep retinal vessels and choriocapillaris (all P < 0.001). Choroidal VD showed a negative correlation with superficial and deep retinal vessels and choriocapillaris (all P < 0.001). Retinal and choriocapillaris VDs showed a negative correlation with diabetic retinopathy (DR) grade (all P < 0.001); however, the choroidal VD showed a weak positive correlation (P=0.030). Conclusion Choroidal VD increased as retinal and choriocapillaris VDs decreased, indicating that the outer layer of the choroid is less affected by DR severity and VD of larger choroidal vessels may even be increased as a compensatory mechanism for decreased retinal and choriocapillaris VDs in type 2 DM patients.
Highlights
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness in adults worldwide [1]
E vascular densities (VDs) of superficial vascular complex (SVC), deep vascular complex (DVC), and choriocapillaris were significantly decreased as the severity of DR increased
Age and diabetes mellitus (DM) duration were associated with VD which is in agreement with findings from previous studies
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness in adults worldwide [1]. the pathogenic mechanism of DR is not fully understood due to its complexity, upregulation of angiogenic cytokines and inflammatory mediators caused by metabolic disturbances is considered a core mechanism resulting in a chain of pathological processes in DR [2]. Journal of Ophthalmology study, superficial and deep retinal vessel, choriocapillaris, and choroidal vessel densities in type 2 DM patients were quantitatively analyzed using OCTA and compared based on retinopathy severity. E study group consisted of consecutive type 2 DM patients who visited the ophthalmology outpatient department at Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital between December 2019 and February 2020. E severity of DR was evaluated in accordance with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study standard grading protocols by two retinal specialists with an experience in DR over 10 years (H.R. and J.B.) [9]. En face 3 × 3 mm macular area OCTA images of superficial vascular complex (SVC), deep vascular complex (DVC), choriocapillaris, and choroid, centered at the fovea were obtained. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
