Role of Inflammation in Retinal Microcirculation in Diabetic Eyes: Correlation between Aqueous Flare and Microvascular Findings.

Celik Buyuktepe T., ÖZMERT E., DEMİREL S., Batioglu F.

Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde, vol.243, no.5, pp.391-398, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 243 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1159/000507089
  • Journal Name: Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Page Numbers: pp.391-398
  • Keywords: Aqueous flare, Diabetic retinopathy, Inflammation, Laser flare-cell meter, Microvascular injury, Optic coherence tomography angiography, COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY, MACULAR EDEMA, VEIN OCCLUSION, CELL PHOTOMETRY, RETINOPATHY, BARRIER, BRANCH, INTENSITY, LEUKOSTASIS
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Purpose:To investigate the correlation between aqueous flare and macular microvascular status assessed by optic coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in diabetes mellitus.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 52 diabetic patients with nonproliferative retinopathy, 44 diabetic patients without retinopathy, and 20 nondiabetic age-matched controls. Spectral domain OCT, OCTA, and laser flare-cell meter were performed.Results:Compared to eyes without retinopathy, eyes with retinopathy had higher flare intensity (p= 0.024), enlarged capillary nonperfusion area (p< 0.001), and enlarged foveal avascular zone (p< 0.001). There was a significant correlation between flare intensity and capillary nonperfusion areas (p< 0.001,r= 0.511) and superficial capillary density (p= 0.005,r= -0.388) in diabetic eyes with retinopathy.Conclusion:The results demonstrated a positive correlation between aqueous flare levels, an indicator of intraocular inflammation, and microvascular damage demonstrated by OCTA in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR). This finding supports the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of DR.