Choroidal and retinal vascular changes in HLA-B27-associated anterior uveitis

To quantitatively analyze choroidal and retinal vascular changes in HLA-B27-associated anterior uveitis.

A retrospective study.

Medical records of 51 eyes with unilateral HLA-B27-associated anterior uveitis, their fellow eyes and 47 sex and age-matched healthy eyes were retrospectively reviewed. Their choroidal and retinal vasculature were analyzed using swept-source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) scans.

Deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel density (VD) (p < 0.001), choroidal vascularity index (CVI) (p = 0.012), and choriocapillary flow deficit (CCFD) (p < 0.001) of uveitic and fellow eye group were significantly higher than those of control group. On the contrary, superficial capillary plexus (SCP) VD (p < 0.001) of uveitic and fellow eye group were significantly lower than of control group. The vascular parameters of uveitis and fellow eye group showed no significant difference between uveitic and resolution period.

Certain choroidal and retinal vascular parameters were significantly changed in both HLA-B27-associated anterior uveitis without posterior segment involvement and the quiet fellow eyes, suggesting their possible effects as a systemic inflammatory disorder.