Macular microvasculature in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy compared to healthy individuals, foveal avascular zone area as a biomarker for disease activity

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate macular blood flow in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) compare to healthy subjects. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with the convenience sampling method. Macular flow density was assessed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and compared between patients with TAO and healthy individuals. We also compared macular flow density in two subgroups of patients based on clinical activity score (CAS). Results: Eighty–five cases, including 30 healthy individuals and 55 patients with TAO, participated. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control. A comparison of flow data between the two subgroups of patients showed a significant difference in the FAZ area (p=0.041). Conclusion: We showed that the FAZ area has an increasing trend from healthy individuals to active TAO patients and can be considered a possible candidate for monitoring the disease activity and thyroid-associated vasculopathy.