Changes Of Retinal Blood Flow Density In The Macular Region Of Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy

BackgroundIn recent years,China accounts for the largest number of diabetic patients in the world.According to the published national survey,the prevalence of diabetes in China has increased dramatically in the past 30 years.From 2011 to 2017,the number of adults aged 20-79 years in China increased from 0.9 billion to 110 million,and the prevalence rate in 2017 exceeded 10%,which is expected to increase to 150 million in 2045.Diabetes mellitus can cause many complications throughout the body,and diabetic retinopathy is the most serious ocular complication In this paper,optical coherence tomography angiography was used to examine the microstructures of normal subjects and diabetic patients'macular area to understand the changes of macular arch and blood flow in diabetic retinopathy.ObjectiveApply OCTA to study the changes of macular blood flow density in patients with diabetic retinopathy and have a better understanding of its retinal microcirculation.MethodsThis study is a retrospective study,42 eyes of 24 patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus.The average age of DR group is 48.5±6.8 years old Then divided DR patients into two groups:macular edema group(20 eyes)and non-macular edema group(22 eyes),and their age is matched to the control group(40 eyes of 40 normal surjects).All subjects were examined by OCTA(RTVue-XR Avanti,Optovue,USA)),to observe the FAZ size,superficial and deep capillary plexus density,and compared them with t-test.Results1.The blood flow density of superficial retinal capillary plexus in DR group was 41.25±3.05%.The non-macular edema group was 41.22±2.72%,the macular edema group was 41.28±3.38%,and the control group was 49.31±1.69%.The non-macular edema group and the macular edema group were compared with the control group,P<0.001.There was no significant difference between non-macular edema group and macular edema group(P>0.05).2.The blood flow density of deep retinal capillary plexus in DR group was 40.58±3.12%.The non-macular edema group was 39.73±2.89%,the macular edema group was 41.52±3.16%,and the control group was 49.38±3.92%.The non-macular edema group and the macular edema group were compared with the control group,P<0.001.There was no significant difference between non-macular edema group and macular edema group(P>0.05).3.The size of FAZ in DR group was 0.35±0.08mm2.The non-macular edema group was 0.36±0.09mm2,the macular edema group was 0.35±0.07mm2,and the control group was 0.26±0.05mm2.The non-macular edema group and the macular edema group were compared with the control group,P<0.001.There was no significant difference between non-macular edema group and macular edema group(P>0.05).Conclusions1.The blood flood density of superficial and deep capillary plexus decreased and FAZ size increased in DR patients.2.In DR patients,there were no significant differences in deep and superior capillary blood flow density and FAZ area between non-DME and DME patients.