Dataset Information

Human Parafoveal Capillary Vascular Anatomy and Connectivity Revealed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To assess the connection among arterioles, venules, and capillaries in three retinal capillary plexuses using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods

This was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study including 20 eyes of 10 healthy subjects. En face and cross-sectional OCTA images were segmented to study the superficial (SCP), middle (MCP), and deep capillary plexuses (DCP). Using thin slabs and manual segmentation within the three plexuses, we examined the connections between the large-caliber superficial vessels within a 3 × 3 mm2 OCTA scan (arterioles and venules) and the smaller capillaries in each plexus.

Results

Twenty eyes of 10 healthy subjects (5 females; average age of 30.8 ± 6.3 years) were included in the analysis. We identified vascular interconnections linking the superficial arterioles and venules with capillaries in each plexus (SCP, MCP, and DCP). We found capillaries in the DCP crossed the horizontal raphe.

Conclusions

Our findings show that each of the three capillary plexuses in the parafovea has its own feeding arteriolar supply and draining venules, supporting a physiologic model in which each plexus controls its own oxygenated blood supply to match the metabolic needs of each distinct retinal neurovascular unit.

SUBMITTER: Nesper PL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6071478 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Human Parafoveal Capillary Vascular Anatomy and Connectivity Revealed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Nesper Peter L PL Fawzi Amani A AA

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 20180801 10

<h4>Purpose</h4>To assess the connection among arterioles, venules, and capillaries in three retinal capillary plexuses using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).<h4>Methods</h4>This was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study including 20 eyes of 10 healthy subjects. En face and cross-sectional OCTA images were segmented to study the superficial (SCP), middle (MCP), and deep capillary plexuses (DCP). Using thin slabs and manual segmentation within the three plexuses, we ...[more]

PMID: 30073360

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Project description:Macular ischemia is a key feature of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Quantification of macular ischemia has potential as a biomarker for DR.To assess the feasibility of automated quantification of capillary nonperfusion as a potential sign of macular ischemia using optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography.An observational study conducted in a tertiary, subspecialty, academic practice evaluated macular nonperfusion with 6?×?6-mm OCT angiography obtained with commercially available 70-kHz OCT and fluorescein angiography (FA). The study was conducted from January 22 to September 18, 2014. Data analysis was performed from October 1, 2014, to April 7, 2015. Participants included 12 individuals with normal vision serving as controls and 12 patients with various levels of DR.Preplanned primary measures were parafoveal and perifoveal vessel density, total avascular area, and foveal avascular zone as detected with 6?×?6-mm OCT angiography and analyzed using an automated algorithm. Secondary measures included the agreement of the avascular area between the OCT angiogram and FA.Compared with the 12 healthy controls (11 women; mean [SD] age, 54.2 [14.2] years), the 12 participants with DR (4 women; mean [SD] age, 55.1 [12.1] years) had reduced parafoveal and perifoveal vessel density by 12.6% (95% CI, 7.7%-17.5%; P?<?.001) and 10.4% (95% CI, 6.8%-14.1%; P?<?.001), respectively. Total avascular area and foveal avascular zone area were greater in eyes with DR by 0.82 mm2 (95% CI, 0.65-0.99 mm2; P?=?.02) and 0.16 mm2 (95% CI, 0.05-0.28 mm2; P?<?.001). The agreement between the vascular areas in the OCT angiogram and FA had a ? value of 0.45 (95% CI, 0.21-0.70; P?<?.001). Total avascular area in the central 5.5-mm-diameter area distinguished eyes with DR from control eyes with 100% sensitivity and specificity.Avascular area analysis with an automated algorithm using OCT angiography, although not equivalent to FA, detected DR reliably in this small pilot study. Further study is necessary to determine the usefulness of the automated quantification in clinical practice.

Project description:Background To evaluate choroidal vascular changes, including choriocapillaris (CC) and middle/large choroidal vessels, in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients using wide-angle optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to determine whether changes in the choroidal vascularity have a relationship with visual function and retinal structural changes. Methods 34 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of RP and 48 controls were recruited. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmologic and imaging examinations, including two types of OCTA (Optovue, 3?×?3?mm, 6?×?6?mm; VG-200, 12?×?12?mm). CC defects were defined according to the choroidal vascular structure in five degrees. To evaluate middle and large choroidal vascular changes, the choroidal vascularity index (CVI), which was the luminance volume to the total choroidal volume, was used. Results Defects of choroidal vascularity of RP eyes were detected in comparison to control eyes. The defects were observed in the CC layer with a concentric or lobular pattern at different degrees. CVI, which was used to reflect middle/large choroidal vascularity, decreased in the perifoveal, pararetinal and periretinal regions in the RP eyes. CC defects degree were correlated with the BCVA (p?=?0.001, r?=???0.556), the Humphrey indexes (mean deviation, MD, p?<?0.001, r?=???0.673; PVF, p?=?0.003, r?=???0.639; 10° mean sensitivity, 10° MS, p?=?0.002, r?=???0.651) and microperimetry index (mean sensitivity, MS, p?<?0.001, r?=???0.807). The preserved CC area (mean value: 28.65?±?12.50?mm2) was negatively correlated with MS measured by microperimetry (p?=?0.005, r?=???0.449). Ordinary regression analysis revealed that the CC defect degree was associated with the CVI of perifovea (p?=?0.002, 95% CI: ??102.14 to ??24.01), the EZ length (p?=?0.006, 95% CI: ??0.006 to ??0.001) and the VAD (vascular area density) of the DCP (deep capillary plexus) in the fovea (p?=?0.022, 95% CI: 0.038–0.478). No correlations were detected between BCVA and CVI in any retinal regions. No correlations were found between the CVI and the VAD in any retinal regions. Conclusion The choroidal vascularity was widely defected in RP. Choriocapillaris and middle/large choroidal vascularity defects were correlated with each other. Visual function and retinal structural changes were found to be associated with choriocapillaris defects but not with middle/large choroidal vascular defects.

Dataset Information

Human Parafoveal Capillary Vascular Anatomy and Connectivity Revealed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Human Parafoveal Capillary Vascular Anatomy and Connectivity Revealed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Similar Datasets

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