State of microcirculation in the retina and choroid according to optical coherence tomography with angiography data in children with posterior and panuveitis

Abstract

AIM: Retinal and choroidal microvascular changes analysis in children with posterior and panuveitis using optical coherence tomography with angiography (OCTA) and determination of the possibility of using this method in activity assessment and disease monitoring.
 MATERIAL AND METHODS: 24 children with uveitis were examined. The age of children was from 8 to 18 years old (38 affected eyes). All included patients were divided into two groups: with posterior uveitis (27 eyes) and with panuveitis (11 eyes). In each of the groups, subgroups with active and inactive uveitis were identified. In addition to the standard examination OCTA was performed. Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, perfusion density in the superficial and deep vascular plexuses of the retina (SVRP, DVRP) and also in the layers of choriocapillaries and large and medium vessels of the choroid were studied. The control group consisted of 10 paired healthy eyes.
 RESULTS: Аll eyes with posterior and panuveitis were characterized by the irreversible decrease in perfusion density in DVRP. In eyes with active chorioretinitis was also detected the reversible decrease in perfusion density in SVRP, layers of choriocapillaries and large and medium vessels of the choroid. The formation of choroidal neovascular membranes (CNM) in patients with panuveitis with choroiditis was accompanied by the decrease in perfusion density at all levels studied. In eyes with chorioretinitis and CNM the decrease in perfusion density was detected in DVRP and the area of FAZ increased.
 CONCLUSION: The features of microcirculation in the chorioretinal complex identified using OCTA in children with posterior and panuveitis can improve the diagnosis and monitoring of these diseases.