Quantitative Analysis Of Fundus Microvascular Changes In Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus By Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Purpose In this study,optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)was used to assess the changes of fundus microcirculation in patients with SLE and the correlation between these changes and disease activity index of SLE.Methods 41 SLE patients(41 eyes)and 40 healthy controls were selected from the rheumatology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University for the study.In order to obtain a series of macular parameters,we use OCTA to scan the area of 6 mm × 6 mm with the macular fovea as the center.These parameters include the foveal retinal thickness(FRT),the area,perimeter and non-circular index of foveal avascular zone(FAZ),the whole layer blood flow density(FD-300)of retina within 300?m around FAZ,the superficial layer and deep layer blood flow density of parafovea.In order to obtain a series of optic disc parameters,we use OCTA to scan the area of 4.5 mm × 4.5 mm with the optic disc as the center.These parameters include the radial peripapillary capillary vessel density(RPC)and the retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness around the optic disc.Results OCTA showed that best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and FRT decreased(P<0.05),the area and perimeter of FAZ in macular area increased,and parafoveal vessel density in DCP decreased in SLE patients(P<0.001).There was a negative correlation between disease activity index and parafoveal vessel density in DCP(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the radial peripapillary capillary vessel density(RPCs)and the retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness around the optic disc between SLE patients and normal people(P>0.05).There was no significant correlation between the RPC vessel density,the RNFL thickness around the optic disc and SLE disease activity index in SLE patients(P>0.05).Conclusion The parafoveal vessel densities in the deep capillary plexus was significantly decreased in SLE patients,compared with the normal control group.There was a negative correlation between SLE disease activity index and parafoveal vessel densities in the deep capillary plexus in SLE patients.Whether DCP blood flow density detected by OCTA can be used as one of the indexes of SLE diagnosis needs to be further explored.