Peripapillary neurovascular coupling in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy

Purpose: To study radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) density in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR), using optical coherence tomography angiography. Methods: A cross-sectional evaluation of RPCs was performed using optical coherence tomography angiography (Avanti RTVue-XR 100, Optovue Inc, Fremont, CA). Annular RPC density was the primary outcome. Global density and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were secondary outcomes. Diabetic eyes were divided into three groups: no DR, mild nonproliferative DR (mild NPDR), and moderate NPDR. Multilevel mixed-effects univariate and multivariate linear regression models were used. Results: We included 155 eyes (n = 42 control; n = 27 no DR; n = 28 mild NPDR; and n = 58 moderate NPDR) from 86 subjects (mean [SD] age 63.39 [10.70] years; 46.45% male). When compared with controls, a significant decrease in annular RPC density was found in all groups of diabetic eyes on multivariate analysis (no DR: β = −2.95, P
Source: RETINA - Category: Opthalmology Tags: Original Study Source Type: research