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. 2020 Apr 19;20(1):154.
doi: 10.1186/s12886-020-01405-0.

Evaluation of microvascular network with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)

Lulu Chen  1 , Mingzhen Yuan  1 , Lu Sun  1 , Yuelin Wang  1 , Youxin Chen  2
Affiliations

Evaluation of microvascular network with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)

Lulu Chen et al. BMC Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Background: To evaluate changes of microvascular network of macular and peripapillary regions and to provide a quantitative measurement of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in unilateral BRVO patients.

Methods: Forty-seven unilateral BRVO patients and forty-seven normal controls were enrolled. A 3*3 mm scan centered on fovea followed by a 4.5*4.5 mm scan centered on optic nerve head (ONH) were obtained in BRVO eyes, fellow eyes and control eyes of each individual using OCTA (Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA, USA). Vessel density (VD) in superficial (SVC) and deep vascular complex (DVC) of macula and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) were automatically calculated. Parameters of FAZ region including size, perimeter, acircularity index (AI) and foveal vessel density 300 (FD-300) were measured.

Results: VDs of SCV and DVC were significantly lower, especially in affected regions, in BRVO eyes compared with fellow eyes (P < 0.05). BRVO affected eyes has larger FAZ size, FAZ perimeter, AI and lower FD-300 compared with fellow eyes (all P < 0.05). VD of SVC and FD-300 were lower in fellow eyes compared with normal control eyes (P < 0.05). The average vessel density in whole area and peripapillary area in BRVO eyes were significantly lower compared with fellow eyes (P < 0.05). VD of inside disc in fellow eyes was lower than normal eyes (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: OCTA provided quantitative information of vascular changes in BRVO. FAZ in BRVO eyes showed significant morphological alterations and decreases of VD in surrounding area. Decreases of VD existed not only in SVC and DVC in macular region but also in RPCs in BRVO eyes. Unaffected eyes of unilateral BRVO showed vascular abnormalities in superficial retinal layer, peri-FAZ area and also peripapillary regions.

Keywords: Branch retinal vein occlusion; Foveal avascular zone; Optical coherence tomography angiography; Radial peripapillary capillary; Retinal vasculature.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Vessel density of SVC and DVC (a-b) in macular region of superior vein occlusion group and (c-d) inferior vein occlusion group. *, P < 0.05; SVC, superficial vascular complex; DVC, deep vascular complex
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Vessel density of RPC in a superior vein occlusion group and b inferior vein occlusion group. RPC, radial peripapillary capillary; s-hemi, superior -hemi; i-hemi, inferior-hemi TS, temporal superior; ST, superior temporal; SN, superior nasal; IT, inferior temporal; TI, temporal inferior; IN, inferior nasal; *, P < 0.05
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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