Choroidopathy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus using enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical...

To evaluate the choroidopathy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography (EDI SD-OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

A total of 74 patients with SLE and 40 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. SLE patients were further divided into three subgroups based on clinical and blood biochemistry findings. Ocular parameters obtained on ophthalmologic examination and optical imaging (EDI SD-OCT and OCTA) included the best corrected distance visual acuity (logMAR CDVA), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT), choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and vessel density (VD) of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP).

SLE patients had significantly lower values for CVI and VD of DCP (DVD) than control subjects. Amongst SLE patients, gender and chloroquine dose were found to be independent determinants of CVI while age predicted SCT. Steroid dose was a significant predictor for foveal VD of SCP (SVD), chloroquine dose for parafoveal SVD, gender for total DVD, and gender and steroid dose for perifoveal DVD. No correlation of logMAR CDVA and SCT was noted between SLE patients and control subjects. No correlation of SCT was noted with disease duration, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) dose or steroid dose. No correlation of CVI was noted with patient age, disease duration, SLEDAI score, HCQ dose or steroid dose. No significant difference was noted between SLE subgroups in terms of any of the ocular parameters studied.

The findings reveal the presence of ocular findings suggestive of early onset choroidopathy on EDI SD-OCT and OCTA in SLE patients, in the absence of ocular manifestations or active disease.