Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate association between progressive macular ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thinning and change of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) derived microvascular parameters in early stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR)
Methods :
41 eyes presented with no DR or mild non-proliferative DR at baseline and 20 healthy controls. All participants underwent structural-domain OCT and OCT-A at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Change of mGCIPL thickness and OCT-A metrics including FAZ area and FAZ circularity, vessel density and perfusion index were measured. Correlations between mGCIPL thickness and OCT-A metrics were explored using regression models
Results :
Average progressive mGCIPL loss was 0.45 µm per year. Three microvascular parameters have been significantly impaired over 24 months compared to baseline (FAZ area: 0.34 to 0.36 mm2, VD: 18.9 to 18.5/ mm, PI: 0.35 to 0.34). A strong positive correlations were found between loss of mGCIPL and vessel density from baseline to 24 months. (r=0.817, p<.001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that thinner baseline mGCIPL and greater loss of mGCIPL thickness (B=0.658, p<0.001) were significantly associated with change of vessel density
Conclusions :
In early stage of DR, progressive structural retinal neurodegeneration and parafoveal microvascular change seems to be highly linked process. Advanced mGCIPL thinning might precede microvascular impairment in early DR
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.