Pulse Waveform Changes in Macular Choroidal Hemodynamics With Regression of Acute Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

To quantitatively evaluate the pulse waveform changes in macular choroidal blood flow by using laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) with regression of acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

This retrospective observational case series included 20 eyes of 20 patients with acute CSC. Laser speckle flowgraphy was performed at baseline and after 6 months. On the LSFG monochrome map, automatically divided 5 × 5 grid segments within the macula were classified into predominantly delayed filling (PDF) or minimally or no delayed filling (MDF) areas according to the degree of choroidal filling delay on early-phase indocyanine green angiography. The average mean blur rate (MBR) and the pulse waveform parameters, including the skew and blowout time (BOT), were compared between the total PDF and MDF areas during follow-up.

The average MBR significantly decreased in both PDF (P = 0.005) and MDF (P < 0.001) areas during follow-up; in both areas, the skew decreased (P < 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively) and BOT increased (P < 0.001 for each), showing significant reduction in vascular resistance at 6 months. The degree of the changes in the skew and BOT was significantly larger (P = 0.02 and P < 0.001, respectively) in the PDF area than in the MDF area.

Changes in the skew and BOT, indices for vascular resistance, confirmed the involvement of circulatory disturbance at the acute stage of CSC. The present findings suggested that the pathogenesis of CSC stems from imbalanced distribution of choroidal blood flow due to augmented vascular resistance.