Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease

Abstract Background Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a quick, noninvasive modality that visualizes retinal microvasculature. The retina is known to be the mirror of the brain, thus it is pertinent to employ OCTA to study covert cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Methods This is...

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Main Authors: Nevine El Nahas, Tamer Roushdy, Mona Wahid el din, Mona Abdellatif, Sara Gaber, Weam Ebeid, Hossam Shokri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-025-00973-6
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author Nevine El Nahas
Tamer Roushdy
Mona Wahid el din
Mona Abdellatif
Sara Gaber
Weam Ebeid
Hossam Shokri
author_facet Nevine El Nahas
Tamer Roushdy
Mona Wahid el din
Mona Abdellatif
Sara Gaber
Weam Ebeid
Hossam Shokri
author_sort Nevine El Nahas
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a quick, noninvasive modality that visualizes retinal microvasculature. The retina is known to be the mirror of the brain, thus it is pertinent to employ OCTA to study covert cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Methods This is an observational case–control study of 40 patients with CSVD and 20 healthy controls. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was performed for all subjects, to exclude dementia. Fazekas grading and SVD score were determined by MRI. OCTA was performed for both groups and included various parameters of superficial and deep retinal capillary plexus density, macular, foveal and ganglion cell complex thickness, in addition to optic nerve head scans. Results Seventy percent of the patients had a low SVD score (1). Case group had significantly lower scores on most parameters of retinal capillary plexus density and macular thickness p < 0.05. Impairment of OCTA parameters was associated with higher Fazekas and SVD scores. Conclusion OCTA is a handy, noninvasive tool that enables the visualization of diminished retinal microvascular density in cases of early CSVD. It can serve as a screening tool for identifying vulnerable populations, facilitating early management for CSVD.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
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series The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
spelling doaj-art-91be7b2461534e7b906c42b0d55dcf6e2025-08-20T02:39:07ZengSpringerOpenThe Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery1687-83292025-05-0161111110.1186/s41983-025-00973-6Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel diseaseNevine El Nahas0Tamer Roushdy1Mona Wahid el din2Mona Abdellatif3Sara Gaber4Weam Ebeid5Hossam Shokri6Ain Shams UniversityAin Shams UniversityAin Shams UniversityAin Shams UniversityAin Shams UniversityAin Shams UniversityAin Shams UniversityAbstract Background Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a quick, noninvasive modality that visualizes retinal microvasculature. The retina is known to be the mirror of the brain, thus it is pertinent to employ OCTA to study covert cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Methods This is an observational case–control study of 40 patients with CSVD and 20 healthy controls. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was performed for all subjects, to exclude dementia. Fazekas grading and SVD score were determined by MRI. OCTA was performed for both groups and included various parameters of superficial and deep retinal capillary plexus density, macular, foveal and ganglion cell complex thickness, in addition to optic nerve head scans. Results Seventy percent of the patients had a low SVD score (1). Case group had significantly lower scores on most parameters of retinal capillary plexus density and macular thickness p < 0.05. Impairment of OCTA parameters was associated with higher Fazekas and SVD scores. Conclusion OCTA is a handy, noninvasive tool that enables the visualization of diminished retinal microvascular density in cases of early CSVD. It can serve as a screening tool for identifying vulnerable populations, facilitating early management for CSVD.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-025-00973-6Optical coherence tomography angiographyCerebral small vessel diseaseRetinal microvasculatureDeep retinal capillary plexus density
spellingShingle Nevine El Nahas
Tamer Roushdy
Mona Wahid el din
Mona Abdellatif
Sara Gaber
Weam Ebeid
Hossam Shokri
Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
Optical coherence tomography angiography
Cerebral small vessel disease
Retinal microvasculature
Deep retinal capillary plexus density
title Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
title_full Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
title_fullStr Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
title_full_unstemmed Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
title_short Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
title_sort retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
topic Optical coherence tomography angiography
Cerebral small vessel disease
Retinal microvasculature
Deep retinal capillary plexus density
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-025-00973-6
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