Retinal Microcirculation Defects on OCTA Correlate with Active Inflammation and Vision in Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada Disease

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To analyze quantitative OCT-angiography (OCTA) measurements of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease at different disease stages.

Methods: OCTA scans of 110 VKH patients in acute uveitic, convalescent and chronic recurrent stage were reviewed; posterior uveitis recurrent cases were excluded. Superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP and DCP) vascular densities (VD) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were compared.

Results: DCP VD was significantly lower and SFCT higher in VKH than normal controls (NC) in all 3 stages (all p < .001). Anterior uveitis recurrent patients had lower SCP and DCP VDs and thicker SFCT than convalescent patients (p = .001, p < .001, and p = .003, respectively). DCP VD was significantly correlated with visual acuity (p < .05). Patients with history of anterior recurrence had lower retinal VDs in the convalescent stage than those without (p < .001).

Conclusion: Retinal microcirculation is impaired in VKH. DCP VD might be a sensitive indicator of inflammatory status and appeared to be well associated with visual outcome.

KEYWORDS:

• Disease stage
• optical oherence tomography angiography
• retinal microcirculation
• vessel density
• Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Summary statement

This retrospective study investigated the quantitative measurements of VKH disease in different stages by OCTA. The results indicated that defective retinal microcirculation might be a pathological hallmark in VKH. DCP VD might be a sensitive indicator of inflammatory status and a good predictor of visual outcomes.

Additional information

Funding

Non-profit Central Research Institute Fund of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences [2018PT32029].