Abstract
Purpose :
Alterations in choroidal structure may occur in various inflammatory diseases. Spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) with enhanced depth imaging (EDI) can better characterize the choroidal structure. This study aims to quantify choroidal thickness from acute to convalescent stage of Birdshot Chorioretinitis (BSCR) utilizing enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT).
Methods :
A retrospective review of 38 eyes in 17 patients with BSCR was conducted and the development of 20 acute and resolution of inflammatory episodes was evaluated. Choroidal thickness was measured from the posterior edge of the retinal pigment epithelium to the choroid/sclera junction at 500-μm intervals up to 2500-μm temporal and nasal to the fovea.
Results :
The mean age was 59 ±9 years (range 43-74). All patients self-identified as non-Hispanic Caucasians. 14 out of 17 patients were female (82.4%). The mean flare duration time was 34 weeks (range 7-102). Eighteen (90%) active flare episodes were bilateral. Common clinical exam findings include the presence of vitreous cells in 33 (87%) of 38 eyes and choroidal lesions in all 38 (100%) eyes. The average initial subfoveal choroidal thickness during acute stage BSCR was 280 ±103 µm and the average subfoveal choroidal thickness at follow-up examination during convalescent stage was 230 ±84µm, (p<0.05).
Conclusions :
We report the novel finding of statistically significant changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness from acute to convalescent stage BSCR as measured by EDI-OCT in a group of 38 eyes. Our results indicate alterations in choroidal thickness occur during active stages of inflammation and may play an important role in the pathophysiology of BSCR.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.