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Early microvascular retinal changes in optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Author(s) -
Simonett Joseph M.,
Scarinci Fabio,
Picconi Fabiana,
Giorno Paola,
De Geronimo Daniele,
Di Renzo Antonio,
Varano Monica,
Frontoni Simona,
Parravano Mariacristina
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.13404
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetic retinopathy , ophthalmology , retinal , optical coherence tomography angiography , diabetes mellitus , foveal avascular zone , fluorescein angiography , plexus , type 2 diabetes mellitus , optical coherence tomography , retinopathy , angiography , surgery , endocrinology
Purpose Diabetic retinopathy (DR) can lead to significant vision loss and blindness and has a particularly high prevalence in patients with type 1 diabetes ( DM 1). In this study, we investigate quantitative differences in optical coherence tomography angiography ( OCTA ) data between DM 1 patients with no or mild signs of retinopathy and non‐diabetic subjects. Methods Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) imaging was performed on DM 1 patients with no or mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and healthy, age‐matched controls. Parafoveal vessel density and foveal avascular zone ( FAZ ) area in the deep capillary plexus ( DCP ) and superficial capillary plexus ( SCP ) were calculated with automated quantification software and compared between patient cohorts. Results A significant decrease in parafoveal vessel density was seen in the DCP of DM 1 patients compared to non‐diabetic controls (57.0 ± 3.3% versus 60.7 ± 2.4%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in SCP parafoveal vessel density, DCP FAZ area, or SCP FAZ area between cohorts. Conclusion M1 patients with no or mild signs of retinopathy have reduced parafoveal vessel density in the DCP on OCTA when compared to non‐diabetic controls. These OCTA findings suggest that parafoveal capillary nonperfusion is an early process in DM 1‐related retinal changes and occurs initially at the level of the DCP . Further investigation is needed to understand the prognostic role of these vascular changes.