Background
To investigate the difference in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, choroidal thickness (CT) and superficial retinal vessels between thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients and healthy controls. To identify the potential influencing factors for these parameters and evaluate their diagnostic abilities in TAO.
Methods
Twenty active TAO patients, 33 inactive TAO patients and 29 healthy participants were enrolled. TAO patients were divided according to the clinical activity score (CAS). RNFL thickness and CT were measured by HD-OCT, while foveal avascular zone (FAZ), vascular density and perfusion density were measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). SPSS software was used for statistical analysis.
Results
Active TAO patients had thinner RNFL thickness than the other two groups (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Both active and inactive TAO patients had significantly higher CT in the macular region (all P < 0.05). The FAZ area in the active TAO group was significantly larger than the other two groups (P = 0.045, P = 0.001). The inactive TAO group had significantly higher vascular density than the other two groups (all P < 0.05). With regard to the perfusion density, significant differences were observed in the temporal and inferior areas (P = 0.045, P = 0.001), as well as the average values (P = 0.032). The FAZ area was positively correlated with intraocular pressure (r = 0.274, P = 0.013), while it was negatively correlated with axial length (r = − 0.344, P = 0.002). The vascular density and perfusion density were not significantly correlated with different clinical variables (all P > 0.05). The AUC analysis indicated these parameters also exhibited a significant discriminatory power in TAO diagnosis.
Conclusions
TAO patients had significant variations in RNFL thickness, choroidal thickness, FAZ area and superficial retinal vessels. These parameters appeared to be potential adjuncts in the evaluation of TAO patients.
Background. To evaluate the potential diagnostic value of CDI of retrobulbar hemodynamic changes in NTG patients. Methods. Relevant publications which included PSV, EDV, and RI of OA, CRA, NPCA, and TPCA in NTG patients and normal controls measured by CDI were retrieved from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, the ISI Web of Knowledge, and EMBASE from 1990 to 2014. Subgroup analyses were made based on IOP-lowering medications uses. Result. In OA, there was significant decrease of PSV with moderate heterogeneity (P < 0.00001, I
2 = 49%) and significant decrease of EDV with significant heterogeneity (P = 0.0005, I
2 = 87%) in NTG patients. In CRA, similar results of PSV (P < 0.00001, I
2 = 42%) and EDV (P < 0.00001, I
2 = 80%) were detected. Significant decrease of PSV and EDV with significant heterogeneity was also found in both NPCA (P < 0.0001, I
2 = 70%; P < 0.0001, I
2 = 76%; resp.) and TPCA (P < 0.00001, I
2 = 54%; P < 0.00001, I
2 = 65%; resp.). Statistically significant increases of RI were found in CRA (P = 0.0002, I
2 = 89%) and TPCA (P = 0.02, I
2 = 81%) with significant heterogeneities, though RI in OA (P = 0.25, I
2 = 94%) and in NPCA (P = 0.15, I
2 = 86%) showed no statistical changes with significant heterogeneities. Conclusions. Ischemic change of retrobulbar hemodynamics is one of the important manifestations of NTG. Hemodynamic parameters measured by CDI might be potential diagnostic tools for NTG.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.