Increased choroidal blood flow and choroidal thickness in patients with hypertensive chorioretinopathy

To investigate the alterations of central choroidal thickness (CCT) and macular choroidal blood flow in patients with hypertensive chorioretinopathy treated with antihypertensive agents.

In retrospective observational case series, ten eyes of 9 patients with hypertensive chorioretinopathy were enrolled (5 men and 4 women; 43.1 ± 19.6 years of age). CCT and mean blur rate (MBR) had been observed during follow-up using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography and laser speckle flowgraphy, respectively.

With the medication for hypertension, serous retinal detachment (SRD) disappeared in all the eyes (mean period, 57.8 ± 50.4 days), and the mean blood pressure decreased (122.7 ± 13.0 mmHg and 93.4 ± 13.2 mmHg at the initial visit and at the day of subretinal fluid absorption, respectively; P < 0.01). The mean logMAR value of best corrected visual acuity showed a tendency toward improvement with the resolution of SRD (0.15 ± 0.30 and 0.08 ± 0.28, P = 0.15). The average MBR significantly decreased when SRD was absorbed (11.4 ± 4.5 and 7.7 ± 2.2, P < 0.01). Similarly, the mean values of CCT decreased (473.2 ± 218.0 μm and 325.7 ± 112.0 μm, P < 0.01). The changing rates of CCT and MBR showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.01, R = 0.88).

The current study demonstrated a novel finding that choroidal blood flow velocity and thickness concurrently increased in the acute phase of hypertensive chorioretinopathy, suggesting the role of choroidal hyperperfusion in the pathogenesis of hypertensive chorioretinopathy.