Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate quantitative parameters in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in eyes with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
Methods :
We performed a retrospective study of eyes diagnosed with CRVO and undergoing OCTA imaging (RTVue XR Avanti, Optovue, Fremont, CA). For each OCTA image, five parameters were calculated for the superficial and deep capillary plexuses: vessel tortuosity and width (um) (6x6 field of view); area (mm2) and irregularity of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and parafoveal avascular densities (3x3 field of view). Baseline values for CRVO eyes were compared to a control group without any retinal pathology using heteroscedastic t-tests. Patients with available follow up were evaluated for change in these parameters after treatment. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results :
Sixteen eyes of 16 patients diagnosed with CRVO (average age 70.31 years, 12 male) were evaluated; 11 eyes had prior treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. A control group of 32 eyes from 16 patients had an average age of 41.57 years. Mean tortuosity and vessel width were higher in CRVO eyes (tortuosity: 13.56, width: 21.61) compared to controls (tortuosity: 7.33, width: 17.11) (both P < 0.05). Mean FAZ areas were higher in both the superficial and deep capillary plexuses in CRVO (superficial: 0.325, deep: 0.352) compared to controls (superficial: 0.191, deep: 0.213) (both P < 0.05). Mean contour irregularity of the FAZ was significantly higher in CRVO eyes (1.349) compared to controls (1.126) in the superficial plexus (P < 0.05). Avascular densities were higher in CRVO eyes compared to controls in both plexuses in circular zones around the foveal center (both P < 0.05). Pearson correlation calculations showed weak correlations between baseline logMAR visual acuity in CRVO eyes and tortuosity, vessel width, and FAZ area/irregularity. Six eyes underwent treatment with anti-VEGF agents for macular edema and had follow up OCTA imaging. The means of each vascular parameter did not statistically differ with treatment.
Conclusions :
Quantitative OCTA parameters such as tortuosity, vessel width, and FAZ area/irregularity are useful at detecting vascular changes in CRVO eyes. These markers may provide a more nuanced understanding of CRVO and serve as objective parameters for monitoring patients.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.