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Güvenç U, Ünlü N, Yaralı HN, Özbek NY. Does thalassemia truly cause microvascular changes without us noticing? An optical coherence tomography angiography study of the children with beta-thalassemia. Int Ophthalmol 2023; 43:3755-3765. [PMID: 37389762 DOI: 10.1007/s10792-023-02786-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE It was aimed to evaluate the retinochoroidal microvascular alterations of pediatric beta-thalassemia patients and investigate the effect of blood transfusion on perfusion among transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), by means of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS In this multicentered, prospective, cross-sectional study, 56 TDT, 14 non-TDT (NTDT), and 63 healthy children were evaluated. The vessel density (VD) in superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus, radial peripapillary capillary network, choriocapillaris, and the foveal avascular zone area (FAZ) were evaluated by OCTA. Before and after transfusion values of the TDT group were compared, and correlations were made with blood values and iron accumulation. RESULTS Foveal and parafoveal zones were significantly thinner among TDT patients, with larger FAZ area. Macula VD of SCP and ppVD was lowest in NTDT group. In the TDT group, a decrease in retinal nerve fiber thickness and ppVD values was detected after transfusion. A negative significant relationship was found between both hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Htc), and ppVD. CONCLUSIONS OCTA provides a better insight into retinal and choriocapillaris vascular impairment influenced by tissue hypoxia and oxidative stress in different clinical phenotypes of beta-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umay Güvenç
- Ankara Training and Research Hospital Ophthalmology Department, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Nurten Ünlü
- Ankara Training and Research Hospital Ophthalmology Department, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hüsniye Neşe Yaralı
- Ankara City Hospital Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Namık Yaşar Özbek
- Ankara City Hospital Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, Ankara, Turkey
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Dursun ME, Hazar L, Karahan M, Erdem S, Ava S, Üzel VH, Dursun B, Keklikçi U. Evaluation of parafoveal and peripapillary vascular densities using optical coherence tomography angiography in children with thalassemia major. Ther Adv Ophthalmol 2023; 15:25158414231162846. [PMID: 37056915 PMCID: PMC10088408 DOI: 10.1177/25158414231162846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Thalassemia major (TM) is an inherited anaemia caused by faulty haemoglobin synthesis. Reducing serum iron levels using iron chelating agents is an important step in the treatment of TM, and the effects on the eye of both the disease and these agents can be determined by regular eye examination. Objectives: We evaluated macular and optic nerve vascular densities in children with TM and compared the results with healthy controls using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Design: This is a prospective study. Methods: A total of 30 children with TM and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. The area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and the vascular densities (VD) of the optic nerve head (ONH), radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) and deep and superficial retinal vascular networks were measured using OCTA. Results: A statistically significant decrease in VD was observed in the whole image and the parafovea, superior hemi, superior and inferior parts of the superficial capillary plexus and in the whole image and the superior regions of the deep capillary plexus in the TM patient group compared with the control group ( p < 0.05). A significant decrease in VD was also observed in the whole image and the inside disc, peripapillary, nasal, inferonasal and temporal regions of the ONH and in the whole image and the inside disc, peripapillary and inferonasal regions of the RPC network in patients with TM ( p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was observed between both serum ferritin levels and deferasirox dosage, on one hand, and both the superficial ( p = 0.023 and p = 0.002, respectively) and deep FAZs ( p = 0.015 and p = 0.045, respectively), on the other hand. A negative correlation was also found between the deferasirox dosage and the VDs of the superficial ( p = 0.010) and deep ( p = 0.001) foveal plexuses. Conclusion: Retinal VD and FAZ are affected in patients with TM. OCTA, which can noninvasively measure retinal VD in patients with TM, may be a useful tool for the early detection of retinal microvascular changes that may occur during the course of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Emin Dursun
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
| | - Leyla Hazar
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır 21280, Turkey
| | - Mine Karahan
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
| | - Seyfettin Erdem
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
| | - Sedat Ava
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
| | - Veysiye Hülya Üzel
- Department of Hematology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
| | - Birgül Dursun
- Department of Ophthalmology, SBU Gazi Yașargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey
| | - Uğur Keklikçi
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
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AttaAllah HR, Mousa SO, Omar IAN. Macular microvascular changes in children with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2021; 259:3283-3293. [PMID: 34125290 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-021-05275-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To investigate the effect of iron overload on macular perfusion among transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) METHODS: The study is a prospective observational case-control study. It included 27 eyes from 27 children with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia and 25 eyes from 25 age-matched controls. All participants were evaluated clinically and with OCTA Avanti RTVue-XR system (Optovue) to assess macular microvascular changes, by measuring vessels density (VDs) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, at both superficial and deep retinal plexuses and at choriocapillaris level. RESULTS Foveal and parafoveal zones were significantly thinner among thalassemia patients, with significantly larger FAZ area at the level of both superficial and deep retinal plexuses when compared with control group. The thalassemia group showed significant lower values compared with the controls regarding whole-image, foveal, and parafoveal deep VD. There were significant negative correlations between serum ferritin and deep (whole image and parafoveal) VD (r = - 0.429, P = 0.026, and r = - 0.452, P = 0.018, respectively). Choriocapillaris VDs (whole image and foveal) showed significant negative correlations with serum ferritin levels (r = - 0.390, P = 0.044 and r = - 0.401, P = 0.038, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: Macular microvascular changes were detected by OCTA examination in patients with TDT, mostly due to iron overload effect, as we selected patients on iron-chelating agent with the least harmful effect on the retina. The most affected layer is the DCP. Changes at the deep layer could be used as a sensitive biomarker for early macular perfusion changes in those patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION Study registration number is UMIN000042657, date of registration: 2020/12/04 (retrospectively registered).
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Thong MK, Ngim CF. β-Thalassemias. N Engl J Med 2021; 384:2166. [PMID: 34077655 DOI: 10.1056/nejmc2105064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Düzgün E, Demir N, Alkan AA, Uslu Doğan C, Çakır A. Retinochoroidal vascular plexuses in patients with iron deficiency anaemia. Clin Exp Optom 2021; 105:326-332. [PMID: 33938383 DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1916387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical relevance: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) may enable the identification of alteration in the retinochoroidal microvasculature in patients with iron deficiency anaemia.Background: To investigate the presence of macular microvascular alterations in females with IDA by using OCT-A.Methods: This is a cross-sectional comparative study. Forty patients with IDA and 35 age-matched healthy women underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination and OCT-A imaging. Foveal avascular zone parameters and the vessel density in the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were calculated using automated software. All measurements were compared between groups. Correlations between the OCT-A metrics and haematological laboratory parameters were evaluated.Results: Compared to healthy subjects, IDA patients revealed significantly decreased vessel density of the SCP in all parafoveal quadrants (p < 0.05). In contrast, vessel density analysis in DCP has shown no statistically significant difference in all parafoveal quadrants (p > 0.05). Although foveal vessel density in both SCP and DCP were higher in the IDA group, only the foveal vessel density in DCP was significantly higher than controls (p = 0.001). The mean values of the foveal avascular zone area and perimeter and choriocapillaris flow area were significantly lower in the IDA group (p < 0.05). The parafoveal vessel density in SCP, foveal avascular zone area, and choriocapillaris flow area were positively correlated with haematological parameters including haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, and mean corpuscular volume (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Patients with IDA had decreased parafoveal vessel density in the SCP, but not the DCP. Foveal avascular zone metrics and choriocapillaris flow area measurements were significantly lower in IDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyüp Düzgün
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nazan Demir
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Abdurrahman Alpaslan Alkan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ceylan Uslu Doğan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Akın Çakır
- Department of Ophthalmology, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
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Cennamo G, Montorio D, Mazzella G, Ricchi P, Costantini S, Spasiano A, Filosa A, Storino MR, Aquila F, Tranfa F, Grosso M. Retinal and Choriocapillaris Vascular Changes in Patients Affected by Different Clinical Phenotypes of β-Thalassemia: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10040276. [PMID: 33800572 PMCID: PMC8065569 DOI: 10.3390/biology10040276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary β-thalassemia represents a hematological disorder that determines anomalous hemolysis and ineffective erythropoiesis. The patients, undergoing regular lifelong blood transfusion, show an iron overload in the tissues that requires an iron chelation therapy. Both iron accumulation and iron-chelating agents cause ocular manifestations, such as retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) degeneration, RPE mottling, cataract, optic neuropathy and retinal venous tortuosity. In this cross-sectional study, we described the retinal and choriocapillaris microvascular changes in different clinical phenotypes of β-thalassemia that may reflect a tissue hypoxia status and oxidative damages. Abstract In this cross-sectional study we assessed the vascular alterations in retinal and choriocapillaris perfusion in patients affected by β-thalassemia, by means of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). A total of 124 eyes of 62 patients (mean age 44.74 ± 5.79 years old) affected by β-thalassemia (transfusion dependent thalassemia (TDT), non-transfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT) and minor) were compared to 40 eyes of twenty healthy subjects. We evaluated the vessel density (VD) in superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus, radial peripapillary capillary, choriocapillaris and the foveal avascular zone area. The TDT group showed a statistically significant reduction in retinal and choriocapillaris VD respect to controls and the other groups (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in OCTA parameters between β-thalassemia minor and controls. The NTDT group showed a significant reduction in VD in deep capillary plexus respect to controls and β-thalassemia minor. Significant negative correlations were shown in TDT group between foveal avascular zone and hemoglobin (r = −0.437, p = 0.044) and between ferritin levels and VD of choriocapillaris (r = −0.431, p = 0.038). The OCTA parameters provided a deeper understanding on retinal and choriocapillaris vascular impairment affected by tissue hypoxia levels and the oxidative stress in different clinical phenotypes of the β-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Cennamo
- Eye Clinic, Public Health Department, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Daniela Montorio
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (D.M.); (G.M.)
| | - Giuliano Mazzella
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (D.M.); (G.M.)
| | - Paolo Ricchi
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, “Cardarelli” Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.R.); (S.C.); (A.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Silvia Costantini
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, “Cardarelli” Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.R.); (S.C.); (A.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Anna Spasiano
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, “Cardarelli” Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.R.); (S.C.); (A.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Aldo Filosa
- Rare Blood Cell Disease Unit, “Cardarelli” Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.R.); (S.C.); (A.S.); (A.F.)
| | | | - Francesca Aquila
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Fausto Tranfa
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (D.M.); (G.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Michela Grosso
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.R.S.); (M.G.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy;
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