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Correlation of Renal Profiles with Choroidal Vascularity Index in Eyes with Diabetic Retinopathy
1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea.
Insights
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) impacts choroidal vasculature. Lower choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in patients with diabetes is linked to higher phosphorus levels, suggesting a connection with kidney disease.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Nephrology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Systemic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease significantly affect the vascular system.
- The choroid, a vascular tissue layer, plays a crucial role in supporting the retina.
- The interplay between choroidal vasculature and systemic factors, particularly in diabetic patients, remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between renal profiles and choroidal vasculature in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR).
- To assess how different stages of DR relate to choroidal vascular changes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study involving 131 diabetic patients undergoing swept-source optical coherence tomography and medical work-up.
- Inclusion criteria: treatment-naïve DR patients without subsequent treatment.
- Patient groups: no DR, mild-to-moderate non-proliferative DR (NPDR), severe NPDR, and treatment-naïve proliferative DR.
Main Results:
- Choroidal vascularity index (CVI) showed a negative correlation with patient age (p=0.013) and serum phosphorus levels (p=0.002).
- CVI demonstrated a positive correlation with subfoveal choroidal thickness (p<0.001).
- Lower CVI was associated with phosphorus retention in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a significant relationship between choroidal vascularity and systemic factors in diabetic patients.
- Phosphorus retention, often seen in chronic kidney disease, is linked to reduced choroidal vascularity in DR.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the clinical implications of these findings.
Abstract:
The vascular system is affected by systemic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. The choroid is an important vascular tissue surrounding the sensory retina. However, the relationship between the choroid and systemic factors in patients with diabetes has rarely been investigated. Here, we assessed the correlation of renal profiles with choroidal vasculature in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR) using a retrospective study design. The study included 131 patients with diabetes who underwent swept-source optical coherence tomography and routine medical work-up within a 4-week period between 1 February 2016 and 30 October 2018. Consecutive patients with treatment-naïve DR who did not receive any subsequent treatment were included. The distribution of patients according to the DR stage was as follows: no DR, 32 patients; mild-to-moderate non-proliferative DR (NPDR), 33 patients; severe NPDR, 34 patients; and treatment-naïve proliferative DR, 32 patients. Multivariate regression analyses showed that the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) of naïve eyes with DR was negatively correlated with age (p = 0.013) and the serum levels of phosphorus (p = 0.002) and positively correlated with subfoveal choroidal thickness (p < 0.001). Taken together, our findings suggest that a lower CVI is associated with phosphorus retention in patients with chronic kidney disease.
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