Retinal microvascular changes in white matter hyperintensities investigated by swept source optical coherence tomography angiography

BMC Ophthalmology

Bo Wu¹  Yuying Yan¹  William Robert Kwapong¹  Yunhan Tao²  Ming Zhang²  Yuzhu Gao²  Yifan Zhang²  Hanyue Xu²  Xurui Jin³ 

[1] Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Lane, Zip code: 610041, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China;Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Lane, Zip code: 610041, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China;Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA;

关键词: White matter hyperintensities;    Retina;    Foveal avascular zone;    Swept source optical coherence tomography angiography;    Microvascular;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12886-021-02143-7

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroTo assess the microvascular changes in the macular region and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in participants with white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) using swept source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS OCTA).MethodsThis cross-sectional study included a total of 23 WMH participants (45 eyes) and 20 age-matched healthy participants (40 eyes). SS OCTA (VG200; SVision Imaging, Ltd., Luoyang, China) was used to assess the retinal vessel density (VD) and the FAZ area. VD was measured in the superficial vascular plexus (SVP), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) within a 6 × 6-mm scan centred on the macula using a 5-mm Macula circle. The FAZ area was automatically measured on the inner retina layer within a 3 × 3-mm scan in the macular region.ResultsThere was no significant difference in VD in the SVP between the two groups. However, VD in both the ICP and DCP was significantly decreased in WMH participants (P = 0.028, P = 0.016). The FAZ area was significantly enlarged in WMH participants (P = 0.030). The signal quality was significantly lower in WMH participants (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study suggested that WMH participants have retinal microvascular and foveal avascular zone area changes compared with healthy controls. Further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to identify the value of our findings in the early evaluation of WMHs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY