Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Active and Inactive Ocular Behçet Disease

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To study macular microvascular changes in ocular Behçet disease (OBD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods

Quantitative and qualitative analyses of OCTA were performed on 23 OBD patients with active or inactive uveitis and compared with healthy controls.

Results

Deep capillary plexus (DCP) is the most frequently involved in OBD (p < 0.001). Its vessel density (VD) is reduced compared with controls in both active (p < 0.007) and inactive uveitis (p = 0.03). In inactive uveitis, VD is inversely related to the number of uveitis relapses (superficial capillary plexus: r = –0.694, p = 0.004; DCP: r = –0.541, p = 0.037) and it is significantly reduced in patients with a uveitis-free period ≥5 years compared with healthy controls (p < 0.038).

Conclusions

Macular VD is reduced in Behçet patients with active and inactive uveitis, especially in DCP. In inactive uveitis, VD is inversely related to the number of ocular relapses and cannot be restored during time.

Keywords:

• Behçet disease
• fluorescein angiography
• OCT angiography
• uveitis
• vessel density

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

Massimo Accorinti, Marta Gilardi, Daniele De Geronimo, Ludovico Iannetti, Daniela Giannini: no financial disclosures.

Mariacristina Parravano consultant for: Allergan Inc (Irvine, California, USA), Bayer Schering-Pharma (Berlin, Germany), Novartis (Basel, Switzerland).

SUPPORT

This research was supported by Italian Ministry of Health and Fondazione Roma but without any role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.