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Evaluation of subclinical retinopathy and angiopathy with OCT and OCTA in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the choroidal and retinal layers with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retinal microvascular structures with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Method

In this prospective, cross-sectional and comparative study, a total of 35 SLE patients and 35 healthy control participants were included. SLE patients who were using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and/or immunosuppressive agents are evaluated with OCT and OCTA. SLE patients who have no HCQ maculopathy observed in OCT were included in the patient group.

Results

Mean macular thickness and ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thicknesses were thinner in the patient group. When the parameters obtained with OCTA were evaluated, vessel (VD) and perfusion density (PD) were significantly lower in the patient group. Central foveal thickness and foveal avascular zone parameters were negatively correlated. In addition, VD and PD, and GC-IPL thicknesses were positively correlated.

Conclusion

Application of OCTA for the evaluation of microvasculature in SLE patients may be useful in subclinical changes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Kastamonu University Faculty of Medicine, Kastamonu, Turkey

    Mehmed Uğur Işık

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, İzmir Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Educating and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey

    Berkay Akmaz, Fahrettin Akay & Yusuf Ziya Güven

  3. Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Rheumatology, İzmir Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Educating and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey

    Dilek Solmaz, Önay Gercik, Gökhan Kabadayı, İdil Kurut & Servet Akar

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  1. Mehmed Uğur Işık
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Correspondence to Mehmed Uğur Işık.

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All procedures involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of our institution’s research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Işık, M.U., Akmaz, B., Akay, F. et al. Evaluation of subclinical retinopathy and angiopathy with OCT and OCTA in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Int Ophthalmol 41, 143–150 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01561-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01561-8

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