Retinal and Choroidal Vascularization in Internal Carotid Artery Stenotic Disease

Author: Luisa Vieira (Portugal)

Co-authors: Catarina Mota, Marta Alves, Bruno Quendera, Carlos Neves, Silva Rufino, Rita Flores

Purpose

To study retinal and choroidal vascularization in internal carotid artery (ICA) stenotic disease patients.

Setting/Venue

Central Lisbon University Hospital Centre

Methods

A case–control study including severe ICA stenotic disease patients and healthy controls was conducted. Choroidal binarization was performed using the Image J software, and total subfoveal choroidal area, luminal area and vascular choroidal index of the subfoveal 1500um, were obtained. Vessel density, junctions’ density and lacunarity of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), and deep capillary plexus (DCP) from OCTA scans were calculated with AngioTool software. Foveal avascular area (FAZ) of the SCP and DCP was measured manually using the Heidelberg software. Subgroup analysis regarding the presence of ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) was performed.

Results

Twenty eyes of 16 patients and 17 eyes of 17 sex and age matched healthy controls were included. Seven eyes of five patients had OIS. Patients’ group showed significantly lower values in SCP vascular density (p=0.019), SCP junctions’ density (p=0.034), and DCP vascular density (p=0.015) comparative to healthy controls. SCP lacunarity was higher in patients comparative to healthy controls (p=0.009). The OIS patients’ subgroup had lower values in DCP vascular density (p=0.026), and higher values in DCP lacunarity (p=0.019), comparative to stenotic patients without OIS. FAZ areas and choroidal parameters did not differ between groups or subgroups (p>0.05).

Conlusions

Retinal vascularization is impaired in severe carotid artery stenotic disease patients. DCP is even more affected in eyes with OIS.

Financial Disclosure

None

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