Abstract:
This study aimed to evaluate foveal avascular zone (FAZ) features and macular flow density (FD) in various retinal layers in a cohort of patients with foveal hypoplasia (FH) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), in order to characterize microvascular abnormalities and explore their potential clinical significance. FAZ parameters and FD, as well as retinal thickness and volume values were analyzed and compared between patients with FH and an age- and gender-matched control cohort. Correlations between disease severity and visual acuity (VA), as well as between disease severity and FAZ features were evaluated. A total of 19 eyes with FH and 19 control eyes were included. The study group showed significantly higher FD values in the foveal sectors of the superficial and deep capillary plexus compared to controls. FAZ area, perimeter, and acircularity index (ACI) were noticeably altered in eyes with FH; however, they did not correlate with disease severity. Visual acuity was negatively correlated with disease severity. The results of this study provide evidence of altered microvasculature architecture specifically in the foveal sectors of patients with FH. The higher FD values in the foveal sectors of FH patients suggest a potential compensatory response of the retinal microvasculature. FAZ parameters and FD values of the foveal sectors could be used as part of an OCTA-based grading system in FH patients.
摘要:
本研究旨在使用光学相干断层扫描血管造影(OCTA)评估中央凹发育不全(FH)患者队列中各个视网膜层的中央凹无血管区(FAZ)特征和黄斑血流密度(FD)。以表征微血管异常并探讨其潜在的临床意义。FAZ参数和FD,分析并比较FH患者与年龄和性别匹配的对照组之间的视网膜厚度和体积值.疾病严重程度与视力(VA)之间的相关性,以及在疾病严重程度和FAZ特征之间进行评估。总共包括19只眼FH和19只对照眼。与对照组相比,研究组在浅层和深层毛细血管丛的中央凹部分显示出明显更高的FD值。FAZ区域,周边,在FH的眼中,异常指数(ACI)明显改变;然而,它们与疾病严重程度无关。视力与疾病严重程度呈负相关。这项研究的结果提供了微血管结构改变的证据,特别是在FH患者的中央凹部分。FH患者中央凹部分的FD值较高,表明视网膜微脉管系统具有潜在的代偿性反应。FAZ参数和中央凹部分的FD值可以用作FH患者基于OCTA的分级系统的一部分。