Optical coherence tomography angiography in occlusive retinal vasculitis

Abstract

PurposeFluorescein angiography (FA) has been the gold standard for the evaluation and management of occlusive retinal vasculitis. Our purpose is to describe swept‐source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in eyes with occlusive retinal vasculitis.MethodsThis prospective study included 15 patients (25 eyes) diagnosed with occlusive retinal vasculitis involving the posterior pole or the periphery. All patients were evaluated using FA, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and OCTA.ResultsThe causes of occlusive retinal vasculitis included Behcet disease in 12 patients (21 eyes), ocular tuberculosis in 1 patient (2 eyes), West Nile virus infection in 1 patient (1 eye) and rickettsiosis in one patient (1 eye). OCTA was superior to FA in evaluating perifoveal microvascular changes. It showed in twenty eyes (80%) areas of retinal capillary nonperfusion/hypoperfusion with or without associated rarefied, dilated, or shunting vessels. The deep retinal capillary plexus was more severely affected than the superficial capillary plexus.ConclusionsOCTA allowed better evaluation of macular ischemia than FA in eyes with occlusive retinal vasculitis. The deep capillary plexus appeared to be more severely involved than the superficial capillary plexus.