Evaluation of the Macular, Peripapillary Nerve Fiber Layer and Choroid Thickness Changes in Behçet’s Disease with Spectral-Domain OCT

Abstract

Purpose. To assess the macular, choroid, and peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) in Behçet's disease (BD) patients with and without ocular involvement by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and compare these findings with healthy controls. Design. Eighty patients with BD and 40 healthy controls who were followed up at the Uveitis and Retina Clinic of the Kayseri Research and Education Hospital in Turkey were enrolled in this prospective study. Subjects and Controls. The patients with BD were divided into two groups according to the presence of ocular involvement. Group 1 consisted of 40 eyes of 40 patients with ocular involvement and group 2 consisted of 40 eyes of 40 patients without ocular involvement. Methods. All of the patients and controls underwent macular, choroid, and peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness analysis with Spectralis domain OCT (Spectralis OCT Heidelberg Engineering, Dossenheim, Germany). Main Outcome Measures. The differences in macular, choroid, and peripapillary nerve fiber layer thicknesses between groups were analyzed statistically. Results. Macular thickness was thinner in patients with BD than in the control group; this result was statistically significant (P = 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in thickness between RNFL analysis of the patients with BD and control subjects. However, the BD patients with ocular involvement had statistically significant thinning in RNFL compared with BD patients without ocular involvement. Although the choroid was thicker in patients with BD than in the control group, it did not reach a statistically significant level (P = 0.382). Conclusions. BD with ocular involvement may be associated with decreased macular and RNFL thickness measured with spectral-domain OCT.

Choroidal Vascularity Index (CVI) - A Novel Optical Coherence Tomography Parameter for Monitoring Patients with Panuveitis?

“…OCT has been universally adopted as an essential tool in management and follow up of uveitis. [ 32 , 38 , 39 , 45 , 46 ] Many attempts have been made to examine retinal, vitreoretinal and choroidal features using this non-invasive modality. [ 9 , 14 , 15 , 17 ] EDI OCT has revolutionised the way to look at the characteristic features in choroid in patients with retinal diseases and uveitis.…”

Assessment of Vascular Change Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: A New Theory Explains Central Visual Loss in Behcet’s Disease

“…The prior study by Mustafa et al showed that mean FRT was thinner in eyes with Behcet's disease than in eyes of healthy controls [ 17 ]. This finding referred to permanent retina structural loss in the foveal area which is consistent with our study and found that thin FRT correlates with poor visual outcome.…”

Choroidal thickness in non-ocular Behçet's disease – A spectral-domain OCT study

“…Prior histologic and imaging studies using FA, ICGA, and OCT have demonstrated increased thickness and volume of the choroid in patients with BD, but these findings were obtained during periods of inflammation affecting the retinal vasculature and choroid or subsequent to previous inflammation. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 Although the pathophysiology of BD is unknown, studies have shown increased diffuse and focal infiltration of proinflammatory cells such as CD4+ T cells and macrophages in the choroid, as well as antibody and complement deposition. 3 These changes are believed to result in increased permeability of the choroidal vessels, leading to increased leakage that would be apparent on ICGA imaging.…”

“… 8 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 Although the primary site of ocular involvement is the retina, a few studies have reported choroidal abnormalities as well. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 In addition, abnormal FA findings have been reported in patients with non-ocular BD. 19 The aim of the current study was to evaluate choroidal changes in patients who have clinically diagnosed BD without clinical ocular involvement.…”