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Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Analysis of Vessel Density Indices in Early Post-COVID-19 Patients

Flavia Chiosi1, Giuseppe Campagna2, Michele Rinaldi3

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli-Ospedale Monaldi, Naples, Italy.

Frontiers in Medicine
|July 15, 2022
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 infection is linked to reduced foveal vessel density in the deep capillary plexus and choriocapillaris, indicating potential microvascular retinal changes post-SARS-CoV-2 recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause hypercoagulable states, potentially leading to sight-threatening ischemia.
  • Microvascular changes in the retina and choriocapillaris are suspected in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate retinal and choriocapillaris vascular changes in COVID-19 patients.
  • To determine if vessel density (VD) measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) provides insights into these vascular alterations.

Main Methods:

  • An observational, retrospective study included 152 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients and 60 healthy controls.
  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-A data were analyzed to quantify VD in different retinal plexuses and the choriocapillaris.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in superficial capillary plexus (SCP) VD between groups.
  • Significantly lower foveal VD in the deep capillary plexus (DCP) and choriocapillaris (CC) in COVID-19 patients compared to controls.
  • Lowest DCP and CC foveal VD observed in patients treated with antiviral therapy; no differences noted for comorbidities or antiplatelet use.
  • Hospitalized patients in intensive care units (ICU) showed significantly lower DCP and CC foveal VD than asymptomatic patients.

Conclusions:

  • Post-COVID-19 patients exhibit reduced foveal VD in the DCP and CC.
  • These findings suggest potential microvascular retinal impairment following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Further longitudinal studies are required to confirm these microvascular changes over time.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19OCT angiographyinflammatory biomarkerretinal microvasculaturesummary statementvessel density

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