Evaluation of Choroidal and Retinal Features in Patients with Primary Vasculitis—An Original Optical Coherence Tomography and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study

Abstract

Ocular manifestations have been described in the course of various types of vasculitis. However, there seems to be no routine ophthalmological examinations for patients suffering from those diseases. To ensure holistic care we aimed to investigate any retinal and choroidal abnormalities in patients suffering from primary vasculitis. The objective was to use non-invasive methods, which would not be time- and cost-consuming, yet would be helpful in routine tests. We conducted a prospective and observational study in 41 patients (78 eyes) with 5 types of primary vasculitis, including: Takayasu’s arteritis; giant cell arteritis; Buerger’s disease; granulomatosis with polyangiitis; and polyarteritis nodosa. A total of 44 healthy individuals were enrolled in the control group for comparison (88 eyes). With the use of optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, and MATLAB, the following parameters were assessed: choroidal thickness; vascularity index; area and perimeter of foveal avascular zone; and circularity index. The following parameters were lower in the study group compared to the control group: mean nasal and temporal CTs; mean central, temporal, and nasal CVI; and mean CI. In contrast, the results of mean central CT as well as the area and perimeter of FAZ were higher in the study group. The differences were statistically significant in the case of all parameters except for CI. Conducting routine ophthalmological examinations in patients diagnosed with vasculitis by assessment of the retina and choroid by measuring parameters like CT, CVI, area and perimeter of FAZ, and CI could be beneficial, as it may detect pathological changes before any ocular symptoms alarm the patients. CVI seems to be especially promising for choroidal evaluation, as it appears to be less influenced by various factors compared to CT.