Distinguishing Microvasculature Features of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada in Patients in Acute and Convalescent Phases Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Role of optical coherence tomography angiography in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

“…Luo et al [ 19 ] identified two OCTA patterns in the choriocapillaris of the acute stage of VKH (one characterized as multiple dark spots of flow void, and the other as highly reflective areas surrounded by light spots with an increased flow area), possibly reflecting different presentation and severity of the condition clinical spectrum. Moreover, they found significant decrease of the choriocapillaris perfusion in the convalescent stage of disease [ 19 ].…”

Improvement of vascular density of macular capillaries in acute Vogt‐Koyanagi‐Harada disease after glucocorticoid therapy

“…Rui Hua MD 1,2 Nan Wang MD 1 Limin Liu MD 1 Hong Ning PhD 1 1 Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China F I G U R E 3 Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT); and vascular densities (VD) of superficial capillary plexuses (SCP), deep capillary plexuses (DCP), and choriocapillaris. (A) LogMAR BCVA significantly improved from 0.67 ± 0.20 at baseline to 0.40 ± 0.13, 0.25 ± 0.079, 0.15 ± 0.066 and 0.060 ± 0.063 at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after glucocorticoid therapy (p < 0.001).…”

“…The thickened choroid usually causes oedema and compresses the choroidal vessels in the acute stage of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH), leading to impaired blood flow, which is attributed to inflammatory cell infiltration and necrotising granuloma. 1 Choroidal microcirculation disturbance is a critical issue related to the treatment outcome. Hence, we quantitatively investigated the changes in vascular density (VD) of the superficial capillary plexuses (SCP), deep capillary plexuses (DCP) and choriocapillaris within the macula, and the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT), in patients with VKH after glucocorticoid therapy.…”

“…Choroidal inflammation impairs the choroidal blood supply. 1 Patients with acute VKH showed both an increased SCT and decreased VD of the macular capillaries. Pichi et al reported on a decrease in the VD of both SCP and DCP in the acute stage.…”

“…4 The VD of SCP, DCP and choriocapillaris is still lower in convalescent patients than that in normal subjects. 1 The DCP is more vulnerable to inflammation-induced ischemia due to its watershed location. 3 The decreased VD of DCP might result in photoreceptor dysfunction.…”