Octa-based detection of retinal microvascular alterations in jia patients without ocular involvement: unveiling subclinical manifestations
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose: This study evaluates retinal microvascular alterations in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) patients without uveitis using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) and compares findings with healthy controls. Methods:A cross-sectional study included 42 JIA patients without uveitis and 48 age-and sex-matched controls.OCTA assessed superficial and deep capillary plexus vessel density, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (PPRNFL) thickness, radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPC-VD), and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area.Statistical analyses included independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test for group comparisons.Results: JIA patients showed reduced foveal vessel density in the superficial (20.33 ± 6.46% vs. 24.63 ± 6.46%, p = 0.003) and deep plexuses (37.00 ± 5.70% vs. 41.41 ± 5.70%, p = 0.002).PPRNFL thickness (120.62 ± 15.44 µm vs. 110.77± 15.44 µm, p = 0.001) and RPC-VD (51.76 ± 3.05% vs. 49.85 ± 3.05%, p = 0.002) were elevated.FAZ area showed a non-significant trend toward enlargement (p = 0.102).Multivariate regression confirmed these findings were independent of age, sex, and disease duration.Conclusion: OCTA reveals subclinical retinal microvascular changes in JIA, suggesting early inflammatory effects.These findings support OCTA as a non-invasive tool for detecting vascular involvement, though a multimodal approach is recommended.Longitudinal studies are needed to assess progression and its clinical impact.
Source: Journal of Retina-Vitreous
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4414436116
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