Exploring retinal vessel density alterations in prolactinoma patients: Insights from OCTA imaging

To investigate microvascular changes in the macular and peripapillary area in prolactinoma patients by using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

A retrospective study.

This study included 40 patients with treatment-naive prolactinoma and 42 healthy controls. Participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examinations, visual field testing, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) assessments, including retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, macular, and peripapillary region OCTA by using the Topcon DRI OCT Triton Swept Source-OCT system. The OCTA results were evaluated between groups and then correlated with PRL levels.

The differences in best-corrected visual acuities were statistically significant among the groups. The RNFL thickness in the superior and nasal quadrants was significantly lower in the prolactinoma group. The prolactinoma group showed significant reductions in macular vessel density (VD) across all layers than the control group, except in the deep retinal capillary plexus temporal quadrants. The radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) temporal VD in the prolactinoma group was significantly lower. In patients with optic neuropathy, correlations were observed between the RPC temporal and RNFL temporal sectors (r = 0.650, P = 0.03), and between the RPC inferior and RNFL inferior sectors (r = -0.612, P = 0.045). Between PRL levels and OCTA parameters, negative correlations were observed (RPC inferior: r = -0.452, P = 0.003; DCP superior: r = -0.379, P = 0.016).

Our study revealed reduced VD in the macula and RPC temporal regions in patients with treatment-naive prolactinoma. OCTA holds significant importance in detecting potential retinopathies and vasculopathies. Future research should focus on examining pre- and post-treatment changes in treatment-naive patients without ON to better understand the impact of prolactinoma.