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.
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.