Abstract
Purpose: :
To study HIV-related retinal microangiopathy by microperimetry.
Methods: :
We conducted an observational case report on 26 eyes of 13 naïve HIV+ subjects. Patients underwent complete ocular examination together with fluorescein angiography and Ocular Coherence Tomography when needed. Microperimetry NIDEK MP-1 (10-2, threshold 4-2) was used to quantify retinal sensitivity. Patients were evaluated at baseline (naïve patients) and after 6 months of HAART therapy.
Results: :
At baseline 16 eyes showed normal fundoscopic examination, while 10 eyes disclosed retinal cotton wool spots (CWS), typical manifestation of microangiopathy. In all eyes microperimetry documented a decrease in focal sensitivity of CWS affected retina and of the superotemporal perivascular area (mean sensitivity values: 17.3 dB). After 6 months of HAART therapy we observed the resolution of CWS in all patients and an improvement in retinal sensitivity if compared to baseline values (mean sensitivity values: 18.9 dB). A similar improvement in retinal sensitivity was measured in the superotemporal perivascular area of the 16 eyes without typical microangiopathy’s signs.
Conclusions: :
Our study suggests that microperimetry in HIV+ patients might be a useful tool in order to investigate the presence and the evolution of retinal HIV-related microangiopathy. Retinal sensitivity should be included as an additional outcome measure in HIV+ patients as it might reveal subclinical microangiopathy. HAART therapy seems to improve retinal sensitivity without toxic effects on retinal structures.
Keywords: AIDS/HIV • antiviral drugs • imaging/image analysis: clinical