Analysis of Foveal and Parafoveal Microvascular Density and Retinal Vessel Caliber Alteration in Inactive Graves’ Ophthalmopathy

Abstract

Purpose. We aimed to evaluate foveal and parafoveal density using optical coherence tomography angiography and the alteration on the retinal vessel diameter in patients with inactive Graves’ ophthalmopathy compared to age-matched normal population. Materials and Methods. Patients with inactive Graves’ ophthalmopathy (study group) and healthy individuals (control group) were enrolled in the cross sectionally designed study. The optical coherence tomography angiography parameters and retinal vessel diameter measurements were assessed between the study and control groups. Foveal and parafoveal microvascular density in the retina was measured using optical coherence tomography angiography. Retinal artery and vein diameter and artery/vein ratio were assessed for retinal vessel caliber changes. Results. Patients with inactive Graves’ ophthalmopathy had higher values of intraocular pressure, proptosis, and axial length (P=0.001, P=0.002, and P=0.008, respectively). Temporal parafoveal vessel density was 48.93 ± 3.21 and 47.62 ± 2.59 in the study and control groups, respectively (P=0.017). Nasal parafoveal vessel density was 47.55 ± 3.01 and 46.46 ± 2.57 in the study and control groups, respectively (P=0.035). Foveal, superior, and inferior parafoveal vessel density values were similar in the study and control groups (P=0.268, P=0.107, and P=0.055, respectively). Patients in the study group had narrower retinal artery and vein diameters (P≤0.001 and P=0.033). Artery/vein ratio was significantly higher in the control group (P≤0.001). Conclusion. Optical coherence tomography angiography could be a novel and promising noninvasive diagnostic technique in patients with inactive Graves’ ophthalmopathy to detect foveal and parafoveal vessel density changes compared to healthy subjects. The decrease of retinal vessel diameter might be observed in patients with inactive graves ophthalmopathy.

Evaluation of retinal and choroidal variations in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy using optical coherence tomography angiography

“…reported that active TAO patients presented with an increased retinal microvascular density. Akpolat et al [33] demonstrated that the temporal and nasal parafoveal vessel density was significantly higher in inactive TAO group, which was consistent with our results. However, Tehrani et al [34] found active and inactive TAO patients both had significantly lower superficial vessel density in the nasal parafoveal [35] also showed inactive TAO patients had decreased vessel density in the superficial OCT angiogram.…”

Evaluation of retinal and choroidal variations in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy using optical coherence tomography angiography

“…[32] reported that active TAO patients presented with an increased retinal microvascular density. Akpolat et al [33] demonstrated that the temporal and nasal parafoveal vessel density was signi cantly higher in inactive TAO group, which was consistent with our results. However, Tehrani et al [34] found active and inactive TAO patients both had signi cantly lower super cial vessel density in the nasal parafoveal sector.…”

Smoking effect on peripapillary and macular microvascular structure in inactive Graves’ ophthalmopathy

“…But there was no data about the CAS of the GO patients in Zang et al's study. Akpolat et al reported that only parafoveal macular VD decreased in inactive GO, but they ignored the effects of thyroid hormone, antibody levels and smoking on retinal microvascular measurements in this study [21]. Unfortunately neither of aforementioned studies reported clearly the affects of the smoking on retina and optic disc microvascular perfusion in GO patients.…”

“…In these studies, old techniques were used to assess the degree of the disorder and it is impossible to evaluate microvascular structure anyway. Only a few studies can be found in the literature about microvascular structures with OCTA in inactive GO patients [10][11][12]21]. But, these studies did not investigate the effect of smoking as a factor impairing microvascular perfusion in GO.…”