Retinal microvascular density analysis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with hydroxychloroquine

• DOI: 10.1007/s00417-022-05946-6
• Publication Date: 2022-12-29T09:07:05Z
• Authors: Eliane Luisa Esser; Julian Alexander ...; Jens Julian Storp; Nicole Eter; Nataša Mihailovic
• Keywords: Hydroxychloroquine

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory joint disease, and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) an established treatment. The extent to which HCQ impacts ocular microvascular vessel density (VD) in patients with RA without evidence of retinopathy has not yet been conclusively clarified. main aim this study was evaluate VD measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) treated HCQ.The data 3 × mm OCT angiogram (RTVue XR Avanti, Optovue Inc., Fremont, California, USA) as well retinal thickness (RT) (n = 30) healthy controls were extracted analyzed. group further divided into undergoing treatment for > 5 years (high-risk-group) < (low-risk group).Patients showed no reduction compared control all obtained regions (p 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed dependency between VD, RT, therapy duration or cumulative dose High-risk a decreased superficial quadrant capillary plexus low-risk-patients 0.022). Whole-en-face RT reduced high-risk 0.019).Our that diminishes OCTA. However, long significantly RT. Our results suggest quantitative OCTA may be suitable early detection focus on detecting should intensive sequential diagnostics.