Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Ophthalmology

To investigate the structural integrity and density of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and measure the Foveal Avascular Zone (FAZ) area using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and the subfoveal choroidal thickness using the enhanced depth imaging feature of the SD {u2013} OCT in patients with active Behcet{u2019}s posterior uveitis in comparison with the same patients after resolution of their activity in response to immunosuppressants. Patients and Methods Prospective longitudinal observational analytic study. Patients presenting with clinically active Beh{u1E09}et{u2019}s Uveitis were assessed clinically, by fluorescein angiography (FA), optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) using the enhanced depth imaging (EDI) feature to measure the subfoveal choroidal thickness. Patients received immunosuppressive therapy according to protocol and the imaging was repeated after complete resolution of activity.26 eyes of 21 patients were included. The LogMAR visual acuity showed a mean improvement of 0.3±0.53 when compared against the baseline acuity (p=0.009). Capillary density in both layers showed an increase which was significant in the superficial layer 1.81 ± 3.57% (p=0.025) and insignificant in the deep layer 1.83±6.74 % (p=0.263). Moreover, the mean FAZ area significantly increased by 0.036 ± 0.069 mm (p=0.023). Both the CFT and CRSF thickness decreased significantly after the disease activity subsided by 157.1 ± 201.2 and 139.0 ± 152 microns respectively (p<0.05). As for the mean subfoveal choroidal thickness it increased by 5.09 ± 49.4 æm after remission, the change that was not regarded statistically significant (p=0.527). None of the parameters correlated with visual acuity gain, however, the LogMAR BCVA correlated inversely with the subfoveal choroidal thickness both during activity (r = -0.413 , p = 0.036) and remission (r = -0.55, p = 0.008 respectively) phases of Beh{u1E09}et{u2019}s uveitis

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