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Updated: Jun 27, 2025
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
Analysis of retinal and choroidal microvascular changes using optical coherence tomography and optical coherence
Ji Hye Lee1, Jae Jung Kim1, Seo Yeon Hong1
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.
Purpose:
Although leukemic retinopathy accounts for 80% of ocular complications in acute leukemia, its pathogenesis remains unclear. To evaluate changes in retinal and choroicapillaris and structural parameters in patients with acute leukemia, we analyzed the correlation between vascular perfusion metrics and laboratory parameters and assessed the changes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Methods:
Herein, 104 eyes of 52 patients aged 18 and above with acute leukemia were enrolled. 80 eyes of 40 healthy patients were recruited as control participants. All participants underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) at baseline.
Results:
Patients with acute leukemia had a significantly thicker ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and lower circularity index than the control participants. Post-HSCT perfusion metrics did not differ significantly, but parafoveal thickness decreased significantly. During the active phase of acute leukemia, lower platelet levels were associated with significant GCIPL thickening and increased foveal avascular zone and perimeter. D-dimer levels positively correlated with GCIPL thickness.
Conclusion:
Patients with acute leukemia had subclinical retinal microvascular deficits on OCTA and GCIPL thickening on OCT, possibly associated with bone marrow function. GCIPL thickness may indicate acute ischemia in such patients. Further studies must elucidate their clinical and prognostic significance.
