Changes in peripapillary and macular vasculature measured by optical coherence tomography angiography and their clinical correlation in patients with optic neuritis due to multiple sclerosis

Abstract

To document changes in the peripapillary vascular network and retinal vascular plexuses in patients with optic neuritis (ON) due to multiple sclerosis (MS) and compare it with healthy individuals. A prospective comparative case–control study performed at the Ophthalmology Department of a tertiary-level university hospital, between November 2020 and November 2022. In all, 26 eyes of 26 patients with ON caused by MS and 26 eyes of 26 sex-matched and age-matched healthy controls. We used optical coherence tomography AngioVue Enhanced Microvascular Imaging System aiming to quantify and compare microvasculature changes in the macula and peripapillary region between the two groups. We found a statistically significant decrease in the superficial and deep vessel density in the macular area in patients with ON compared with the healthy controls. Superficial vessel density in the macular area in the healthy ones was 49.90±3.4, while in those with MS was 44.09±4.9 (P<0.001). Deep vessel density in the macular area in patients without MS was 51.71±6.8 while in patients with MS was 45.51±5.7 (P<0.001). There is a decrease in superficial and deep vessel density and radial peripapillary vessel density in patients with ON caused by MS in comparison to healthy controls.