Retinal microvasculature impairment in patients with congenital heart disease investigated by optical coherence tomography angiography

Abstract

Importance: A high prevalence of retinal abnormalities have been reported in congenital heart disease (CHD), but quantitative analysis of retinal vasculature is scarce. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a noninvasive method to quantitatively assess the retinal microvasculature. Background: To investigate the retinal microvasculature changes in CHD patients by using OCTA. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: A total of 158 participants including 57 cyanotic CHD (CCHD) patients, 60 acyanotic CHD (ACHD) patients and 41 control subjects were included. Methods: All participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination, including refraction measurement, intraocular pressure measurement and OCTA. Main Outcome Measures: Vessel density (VD) was measured within the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC), superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) of the macula. Results: CCHD patients had significantly lower VD in the RPC, SCP and DCP (all P