Vessel density in early-stage primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma: a comparative controlled optical coherence tomography angiography study / Densidade vascular no estágio inicial do glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e do glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo: estudo comparativo controlado com angiografia por tomografia de coerência óptica

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to compare the vessel density of the optic nerve head and radial peripapillary capillary in the eyes with early-stage primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and control eyes. Methods: With visual field mean deviation scores >-6.0 dB, 54 eyes from 37 patients diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma (n=18) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (n=18) and healthy controls (n=18) were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. Retrieved from optical coherence tomography angiography, vessel density for the optic nerve head and radial peripapillary capillary were analyzed according to the distribution of the data and appropriate tests. The diagnostic accuracy of vessel density parameters was also assessed. Results: The whole-image vessel density of the radial peripapillary capillary and inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head were significantly lower in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma compared to those in the control eyes (p<0.05). Compared to that in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, the inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head was significantly lower in primary open angle glaucoma (p<0.05). Inferotemporal sector vessel density of the optic nerve head for both primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma was significantly lower than that of the controls (p=0.009). In discrimination of primary open angle glaucoma vs. control and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma vs. control, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head were 0.855 and 0.731, respectively (p<0.001, p=0.018). However, in discrimination of primary open angle glaucoma vs. pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for whole-image and inside-disc vessel densities of the optic nerve head were 0.707 and 0.722 (p=0.034, p=0.023). Conclusions: Vessel densities of the optic nerve head and radial peripapillary capillary were significantly lower in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma compared to healthy control eyes. In the early stage of glaucoma, the inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head slab may be lower in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma eyes compared to eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

RESUMO Objetivo: Comparar a densidade vascular da cabeça do nervo óptico e a densidade capilar peripapilar radial em olhos em estágios iniciais de glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e com glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo, bem como em olhos controle. Métodos: Este é um estudo observacional transversal, no qual foram incluídos 54 olhos com valores de desvio médio do campo visual superiores a -6,0 dB. Os olhos incluídos eram de 37 pacientes, diagnosticados com glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto (n=18), glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo (n=18) e controles saudáveis (n=18). Os valores de densidade vascular da cabeça do nervo óptico e a densidade capilar peripapilar radial foram obtidos a partir de angiografias por tomografia de coerência óptica, analisados de acordo com a distribuição dos dados e submetidos a testes estatísticos apropriados. Também foi avaliada a precisão diagnóstica dos parâmetros de densidade vascular. Resultados: Os valores para a densidade capilar peripapilar radial e no interior do disco óptico nas imagens inteiras foram significativamente menores no glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e no glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo do que no grupo controle (p<0,05). A densidade vascular no interior do disco óptico na cabeça do nervo óptico foi significativamente menor no glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto do que no glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo (p<0,05). A densidade vascular no setor temporal inferior da cabeça do nervo óptico foi significativamente menor tanto no glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto quanto no glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo, em comparação com o grupo controle (p=0,009). A área abaixo da curva de ROC para a densidade vascular no interior do disco óptico na cabeça do nervo óptico, foi de 0,855 para a comparação do glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto com o controle (p<0,001) e de 0,731 para a comparação do glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo com o controle (p=0,018). Porém, na comparação do glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto com o glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo, os valores da área abaixo da curva de ROC para a densidade vascular na imagem inteira e no interior do disco óptico na cabeça do nervo óptico foram respectivamente de 0,707 e 0,722 (p=0,034, p=0,023). Conclusões: A densidade vascular na cabeça do nervo óptico e a densidade capilar peripapilar radial mostraram-se significativamente diminuídas no glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e no glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo, em comparação com olhos controle saudáveis. Nos estágios iniciais do glaucoma, a densidade vascular no interior do disco óptico, na cabeça do nervo óptico, pode ser menor em olhos com glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto do que em olhos com glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo.

Vessel density in early-stage primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma: a comparative controlled optical coherence tomography angiography study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the vessel density of the optic nerve head and radial peripapillary capillary in the eyes with early-stage primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and control eyes. METHODS: With visual field mean deviation scores >-6.0 dB, 54 eyes from 37 patients diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma (n=18) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (n=18) and healthy controls (n=18) were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. Retrieved from optical coherence tomography angiography, vessel density for the optic nerve head and radial peripapillary capillary were analyzed according to the distribution of the data and appropriate tests. The diagnostic accuracy of vessel density parameters was also assessed. RESULTS: The whole-image vessel density of the radial peripapillary capillary and inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head were significantly lower in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma compared to those in the control eyes (p<0.05). Compared to that in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, the inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head was significantly lower in primary open angle glaucoma (p<0.05). Inferotemporal sector vessel density of the optic nerve head for both primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma was significantly lower than that of the controls (p=0.009). In discrimination of primary open angle glaucoma vs. control and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma vs. control, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head were 0.855 and 0.731, respectively (p<0.001, p=0.018). However, in discrimination of primary open angle glaucoma vs. pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for whole-image and inside-disc vessel densities of the optic nerve head were 0.707 and 0.722 (p=0.034, p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Vessel densities of the optic nerve head and radial peripapillary capillary were significantly lower in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma compared to healthy control eyes. In the early stage of glaucoma, the inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head slab may be lower in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma eyes compared to eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.