Analysis of choroidal vessel density in patients with multiple sclerosis

Optical coherence tomography angiography measurements in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…However, the difference between MSON and MSNON groups was statistically insignificant. Jesus et al [ 51 ] showed that the choriocapillaris vessel density of MS cases at different distances from the fovea was not significantly different from the HC group (all P > 0.05). Furthermore, choroidal layer vessel density was significantly less in the MS group than in the HC group at 500–1000 µm of the fovea ( P = 0.01) and 1000–1500 µm of the fovea ( P = 0.01).…”

“…All of the 18 studies had observational designs, five of which were conducted in the United States [ 22 , 46 , 48 , 49 , 57 ], three in Italy [ 31 , 52 , 54 ], three in Turkey [ 45 , 47 , 55 ], one in China [ 29 ], one in Korea [ 50 ], one in Poland [ 43 ], one in Germany [ 56 ], one in Portugal [ 51 ], one in Egypt [ 36 ] and one in Spain [ 53 ]. In regard to MS diagnosis criteria, eight articles used the 2010 revised McDonald Criteria [ 22 , 31 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 53 , 55 , 57 ], eight articles used the 2017 revised McDonald Criteria [ 29 , 36 , 43 , 49 – 51 , 54 , 56 ], a single study used the 2005 revised McDonald Criteria [ 46 ], and finally, one study did not report any specific criteria [ 52 ]. Nine studies selected their case exclusively from the RRMS subtype of patients [ 19 , 36 , 43 , 45 , 47 , 49 , 53 , 54 , 56 ].…”

“…In seven studies, OCT-A measurements were conducted using the Optovue RTVue XR Avanti (Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA) with AngioVue software [ 31 , 43 , 47 , 52 , 54 – 56 ]. Moreover, three studies used the Zeiss Cirrus (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA) with AngioPlex software [ 29 , 36 , 57 ], three studies used Heidelberg Spectralis OCT-A (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) with internal Heidelberg software [ 22 , 49 , 51 ], two studies used prototype Axsun Swept Source (SS)–OCT Engine (Excelitas Technologies Corp., Billerica, MA) with OCT Host software [ 46 , 48 ], two studies used Topcon DRI OCT Triton Plus (Topcon Corp., Tokyo, Japan) with Topcon IMAGEnet software [ 50 , 53 ], and one study used Nidek Advance RS-3000 (Nidek Co., Gamagori, Japan) with AngioScan software [ 45 ]. Two studies employed ImageJ software ( https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/ ) as well as automated internal software of OCT-A device for quantitative analysis of images [ 22 , 51 ].…”

“…Studies with different machines reported inconsistent results on the comparison of choriocapillaris vessel density between MS cases and HC. Two studies using the Optovue machine [ 52 , 54 ] and one study using the Heidelberg machine [ 51 ] measured choriocapillaris vessel density (Tables 2 and 3 ). In the study by Cennamo et al [ 54 ], the choriocapillaris vessel density of RRMS cases was not significantly different from HC ( P = 0.88).…”

The Evolvement of OCT and OCT-A in Identifying Multiple Sclerosis Biomarkers

“…Their study showed a statistically significant decrease in VD in both layers in the foveal and parafoveal regions, from 500 to 1500 µm. Moreover, patients with a history of ON showed an even greater VD decrease, especially in the choroidal layer [37]. These findings, although not correlated with other parameters except for axial length, incline to support the hypothesis of a choroidal ischemia that leads to retinal degeneration in MS patients.…”