Choroidal vascularity index and thickness in sarcoidosis

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease which is observed worldwide. Sarcoidosis is one of the common causes of ocular inflammation. The choroidal vascularity index, defined as the ratio of the luminal area to the total choroidal area, is used as one of the biomarkers for assessing the choroid vascular state. We aimed to compare choroidal vascularity index and thickness measurements between sarcoidosis patients and healthy controls.Thirty-one patients with sarcoidosis and 31 age-gender matched healthy participants were recruited in this cross-sectional and comparative study. Choroidal vascularity index was defined as the ratio of luminal area to total choroidal area after binarization on optical coherence tomography images. Anterior segment examinations included central corneal thickness, corneal volume, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber volume, and iridocorneal angle. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, choroidal thickness, and retinal vessel caliber.The mean choroidal vascularity index value was 61.6% in sarcoidosis patients and 62.4% in healthy controls (P = .69). The choroidal vascularity index and thickness were significantly correlated in both sarcoidosis (r = 0.41, P = .026) and control groups (r = 0.51, P = .006). Both the sarcoidosis and control groups had similar measured values for central corneal thickness, corneal volume, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber volume, and iridocorneal angle (P > .05). Mean retinal nerve fiber layer, retinal arteriole and venule caliber, and choroidal thickness measurements did not differ significantly between the groups (P > .05).Sarcoidosis patients in quiescent period have similar choroidal vascularity index and thickness with healthy controls.

Phenome- and genome-wide analyses of retinal optical coherence tomography images identify links between ocular and systemic health

“…OCT studies in the context of infectious pneumonia are few in number and mostly relate to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), which is variably reported to be associated with reduced macular thickness and RNFL thinning (56), as well as increased RNFL and GCC thickness compared with controls. In the presence of noninfectious idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, a single paper demo nstrates RNFL thinning (57). The relative paucity and, in some cases, contradictory nature of publications in this field emphasizes the need for ongoing appropriately powered studies to find evidence for the clinical utility of retinal imaging in the context of respiratory disease.…”

A Deep Learning–Based Fully Automated Program for Choroidal Structure Analysis Within the Region of Interest in Myopic Children

“…The choroidal structure is altered pathologically in various ocular and systemic conditions, 3 – 9 , 45 , 46 such as high myopia, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), pachychoroid diseases, and Parkinson's disease. Currently, choroidal thickness serves as the most commonly used choroidal biomarker.…”

“…The choroid is the most highly vascularized tissue in the eye and is composed of vessels encased in stroma. 1 , 2 Structural changes to the choroid are implicated in various ocular and systemic conditions, 3 – 9 including high myopia, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, pachychoroid diseases, and Parkinson's disease. Therefore, quantitative choroidal structure assessment is vital for investigating the pathophysiology of these disorders.…”