Abstract
PurposeTo investigate the differences of retinal thickness (RT) and superficial vascular density (SVD) between patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and healthy controls (HCs) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).MethodsIndividuals with SS and healthy controls were enrolled (n = 12 per group). An en-face OCTA scan was performed on each eye. Images were segmented into 9 subregions and macular RT and SVD were measured and compared between the 2 groups.ResultsVisual acuity (VA) differed significantly between patients with SS (24 eyes) and controls (24 eyes) (p < 0.001). In patients with SS, inner RT was reduced in the inner superior region, outer RT was reduced in the outer nasal (ON) region, and full RT was reduced in the ON region compared with the control group (p < 0.05). RT was negatively correlated with serum IgG level in the outer and full retina at ON regions (p < 0.05). SVD in the inner nasal, ON, and inner temporal regions was significantly lower in patients with SS than in control subjects (p < 0.05). SVD was positively correlated with full RT in the ON region in patients with SS (p < 0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the diagnostic sensitivity of outer RT and full RT in the ON region for SS were 0.828 (95% CI: 0.709–0.947) and 0.839 (95% CI: 0.715–0.963), respectively.ConclusionsIn patients with SS, retinal thinning in the macular area—which affects vision—can also reflect the severity of dry eyes in SS and has clinical value for assisted imaging diagnosis.
Highlights
Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is a long-term diffuse connective tissue disease
We investigated the ocular status of patients with SS, and used Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to assess retinal thickness (RT) and vascular density (VD) in patients with SS compared with healthy controls
The patients with SS and control subjects were comparable in the terms of age
Summary
Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is a long-term diffuse connective tissue disease. The male-to-female ratio is between 1:9 and 1:10, and most patients are 30–60 years of age [2]. The clinical manifestations of SS range from exocrine to systemic with multiple extraglandular involvement [3]. Retinal Thickness and Microvascular Alterations a lower incidence of visceral damage than systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the degree of disability is similar [4]. Patients with SS often have physical and psychological disorders that reduce the social functioning and quality of life [5, 6]. The symptomatology of SS overlaps with that of other systemic diseases, drug reactions, and viral infections. SS diagnosis and treatment represent a clinical challenge. The twothirds of patients with SS are not correctly diagnosed initially [3, 7] and a diagnosis can take up to 10 years from initial symptom onset [8]
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