Evaluation of radial peripapillary capillary density in patients with newly diagnosed iron deficiency anemia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Hematology
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common condition with systemic effects.
• Retinal microvasculature changes may indicate systemic health issues.
• Radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPCvd) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness are key retinal parameters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of IDA on RPCvd and RNFL thickness.
• To correlate retinal vascular and structural measurements with hematological parameters in IDA patients.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 40 patients with IDA and 46 healthy controls.
• Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used for RPCvd and RNFL thickness measurements.
• Standard laboratory tests assessed hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), and iron-related indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC, ferritin).

Main Results:

• Patients with IDA exhibited significantly lower RPCvd across all analyzed retinal regions compared to controls (p < 0.05).
• No significant differences in RNFL thickness were observed between IDA patients and the control group (p > 0.05).
• Significant positive correlations were found between RPCvd and Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and ferritin levels.

Conclusions:

• Reduced RPCvd in IDA suggests potential retinal vascular compromise.
• The findings underscore the importance of monitoring retinal vascularity in IDA patients.
• Anemia treatment is crucial for maintaining adequate optic nerve perfusion, as indicated by the correlation between RPCvd and hematological values.