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Association between choroidopathy and photoreceptors during the early stage of diabetic retinopathy: a cross-sectional study

  • Retinal Disorders
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To explore the role of choroidopathy in diabetic retinopathy (DR) by investigating the correlation between alterations of choroidal vessel and photoreceptors during the early stage of DR.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional comparison of diabetic patients without DR (NDR group; n=16) and those with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR group; n=39). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of choroidal vessel alterations and photoreceptor structures were evaluated using the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and adjusted ellipsoid zone (EZ) reflectivity, respectively. To evaluate the function of cone photoreceptors, the fundamental, harmonic amplitudes, the parameters S and Rmp3 were calculated from the electroretinogram (ERG). These factors were compared between groups. The correlation between the CVI and parameters describing the function and structure of the photoreceptors was evaluated.

Results

The significant decrease was observed in the CVI in the NPDR group compared to the NDR group (0.67 ± 0.04 vs. 0.70 ± 0.06; p = 0.028), but not in the adjusted EZ reflectivity or ERG parameters. In NPDR group and merging the 2 groups, CVI was moderately positively correlated with the fundamental amplitude obtained by the flicker ERG (NPDR only: r = 0.506; p = 0.001; merge the 2 groups: r = 0.423; p = 0.001), which was regulated by the response of the cone photoreceptors. The CVI was positively and moderately correlated with the logS (NPDR only: r = 0.462; p = 0.003; merge the 2 groups: r = 0.355; p = 0.008), indicating the sensitivity of cone cell light transduction.

Conclusion

Compared to eyes without DR, CVI decreased representing choroidal vascular changes in eyes with mild NPDR. These changes may be related to the functional impairment of cone photoreceptors, especially phototransduction sensitivity, as the DR develops.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen Eye Institute, Shenzhen, 518040, China

    Ningxin Dou, Dong Fang & Shaochong Zhang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China

    Ningxin Dou, Xiaoling Liang & Shanshan Yu

  3. Bio-manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China

    Guangyang Li

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  1. Ningxin Dou
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  3. Dong Fang
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  4. Shaochong Zhang
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  5. Xiaoling Liang
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Contributions

D.N.X. designed the work, performed data analysis, and written the manuscript. L.G.Y. maintained research data and was a major contributor in data analysis. F.D. was responsible for project administration and data acquisition. Z.S.C. was responsible for supervision of the study. L.X.L. was responsible for supervision of the study and funding acquisition. Y.S.S. was responsible for validation and supervision of the study. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Shaochong Zhang, Xiaoling Liang or Shanshan Yu.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Ethics Committee of the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Dou, N., Li, G., Fang, D. et al. Association between choroidopathy and photoreceptors during the early stage of diabetic retinopathy: a cross-sectional study. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 262, 1121–1129 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-023-06282-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-023-06282-z

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