Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Features in Behçet’s Uveitis

Abstract

Purpose : Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a fast, noninvasive imaging technique that provides a clear, depth-resolved visualization of the chorioretinal microvasculature. We analyzed foveal microvascular changes in eyes with Behçet’s uveitis using swept-source OCTA and we compared the findings with those of fluorescein angiography (FA) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods : Seven patients (13 eyes) with Behçet’s uveitis involving the posterior segment were enrolled in a prospective observational study and evaluated using FA, SD-OCT, and swept-source OCTA. OCT angiograms were obtained using Topcon DRI OCT Triton plus. The instrument operates at 100.000 A-scans/second, using a light source centered on 1050 nm to create 3x3-mm volume sections centered on the fovea. Preset parameters were used to segment the retinal vasculature in the superficial and deep capillary plexus.

Results : There were 6 male and one female with a mean age of 29 years. The perifoveal capillary arcade was disrupted in 5/13 eyes and 8/13 eyes on FA and OCTA, respectively. OCTA detected capillary nonperfused areas in the superficial plexus in 9/13 eyes. Some of these nonperfused areas were not detected on FA. Superficial capillary telangiectasias were noted in one eye. In the deep capillary plexus, larger grayish capillary nonperfused areas were seen in 11/13 eyes. The normal architecture of the deep capillary plexus was altered in 11/13 eyes, so that the regular pattern of the capillary vortexes could not be identified. In one eye, there were well-defined black roundish areas without any signal on OCTA corresponding to intraretinal cystoid spaces seen on SD-OCT.

Conclusions : OCTA allowed detecting microvascular abnormalities in both superficial and deep capillary plexuses in eyes with Behçet’s uveitis. The deep capillary plexus appeared to be more impaired than the superficial plexus. OCTA may be clinically useful to evaluate the microvascular changes and assess disease severity in patients with Behçet’s uveitis.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.