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. 2020 Aug;74(4):275-278.
doi: 10.5455/medarh.2020.74.275-278.

Assessment of Perfused Peripapillary Capillaries and Peripapillary Capillary Density Maps in Glaucoma Patients

Sanja Sefic  1 , Aida Kasumovic  1 , Ines Matoc  1 , Tarik Halimic  1 , Bahrija Voloder  2 , Lejla Muhamedagic  2 , Seldjana Catovic Delic  2 , Irena Sesar  3
Affiliations

Assessment of Perfused Peripapillary Capillaries and Peripapillary Capillary Density Maps in Glaucoma Patients

Sanja Sefic et al. Med Arch. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Introduction: Monitoring and diagnosing glaucoma until 2017 included funduscopy, IOP measurements, gonioscopy, pachymetry, as well as visual field tests, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC) can be observed by fluorescein angiography, as well as histologically - superficial and deep capillary layer.

Aim: To correlate density of radial peripapillary capillary network (RPC) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in eight peripapillary segments in patients with a primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) which have the disease under 10 years of duration, over 10 years of duration and in a group of healthy patients.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional review which included three groups of patients: POAG patients under 10 years of disease duration, over 10 years of disease duration and control group of patients. The study is performed on the commercial optical coherence tomography angiography system (AngioVue, Avanti RTVue-XR, Optovue, CA). Sectoral RPC density values, RPC maps and RNFL thickness were analyzed in three groups of patients, data was compared and correlation between parameters was examined.

Results: Mean RPC Density values in both superior segments (S1, S2) were significantly lower in patients with glaucoma over 10 years of disease duration compared to patients with glaucoma under 10 years of disease duration (p<0.05). Statistically significant positive correlation was established between RNFL thickness and RPC density in all eight peripapillary segments.

Conclusion: Analysis of radial peripapillary capillary network density on optical coherence tomography angiography may provide an earliest functional sign of progressive optic nerve disease and new insights into the pathophysiology of glaucomatous damage.

Keywords: Glaucoma; Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography; Peripapillary Capillary Density Maps; Primary Open Angle Glaucoma; Radial Peripapillary capillaries.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. RNFL in patients with Glaucoma<10 years, Glaucoma>10 years and Control group; *p<0.001 compared with Glaucoma<10 years and Control group; ** p<0.05 compared to Glaucoma<10 years; RNFL – retinal nerve fibre layer
Picture 1.
Picture 1.. PCD maps, left eye: A. Peripapillary capillary vessel density in quadrants; B. RNFL thickness in quadrants; S – superior quadrant, I – inferior quadrant, T – temporal quadrant, N – nasal quadrant
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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