Retinal and choroidal microvascular analysis by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without clinical signs of TAO

Objective To analyse retinal and choroidal microvascular alterations in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without signs of TAO using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) and to investigate the potential reasons for ocular microvascul...

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Main Authors: Congbi Liang, Jingcheng Liu, Dihao Hua, Tianyue Cao, Yang Meng, Di Xiao, Hongmei Zheng, Zhen Chen, Changzheng Chen, Yishuang Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Annals of Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2478314
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author Congbi Liang
Jingcheng Liu
Dihao Hua
Tianyue Cao
Yang Meng
Di Xiao
Hongmei Zheng
Zhen Chen
Changzheng Chen
Yishuang Xu
author_facet Congbi Liang
Jingcheng Liu
Dihao Hua
Tianyue Cao
Yang Meng
Di Xiao
Hongmei Zheng
Zhen Chen
Changzheng Chen
Yishuang Xu
author_sort Congbi Liang
collection DOAJ
description Objective To analyse retinal and choroidal microvascular alterations in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without signs of TAO using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) and to investigate the potential reasons for ocular microvascular changes in patients with TAO.Methods Thirty patients with active TAO (group A), thirty patients with hyperthyroidism without signs of TAO (group B), and thirty healthy subjects (group C) were recruited. The images of macula and optic nerve head were obtained by SS-OCTA. Vessel density (VD) of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus, radial peripapillary capillary and choriocapillaris (CC), choroidal vascularity index, foveal avascular zone area, macular thickness, macular ganglion cell complex thickness, choroidal thickness (CT), and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness were measured.Results Group A had significantly higher VD of SCP than group C (all p < 0.05), and group B had significantly lower VD of SCP than group C (all p < 0.05). The VD of CC was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C (p < 0.05). CT was significantly thicker in groups A and B than in group C (all p < 0.05). Multivariable regression analysis showed that the free triiodothyronine was significantly negatively correlated with the VD of SCP in the parafoveal regions in groups B and C (p < 0.05) and proptosis was significantly positively correlated with the VD of SCP in groups A and B (all p < 0.05).Conclusion We noted a difference in the VD of SCP and CC between patients with TAO and patients with hyperthyroidism without signs of TAO. These relative differences in ocular microvasculature indicated that local (orbital) and systemic (thyroid-related) factors may both play a role in disease presentation and progression, with orbital factors having a greater impact.
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spelling doaj-art-f00f328efdde4255acc5df7edff0fddb2025-08-20T03:42:37ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of Medicine0785-38901365-20602025-12-0157110.1080/07853890.2025.2478314Retinal and choroidal microvascular analysis by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without clinical signs of TAOCongbi Liang0Jingcheng Liu1Dihao Hua2Tianyue Cao3Yang Meng4Di Xiao5Hongmei Zheng6Zhen Chen7Changzheng Chen8Yishuang Xu9Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology &amp; Metabolism, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaEye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaEye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaEye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaEye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaEye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaEye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaEye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaEye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaObjective To analyse retinal and choroidal microvascular alterations in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without signs of TAO using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) and to investigate the potential reasons for ocular microvascular changes in patients with TAO.Methods Thirty patients with active TAO (group A), thirty patients with hyperthyroidism without signs of TAO (group B), and thirty healthy subjects (group C) were recruited. The images of macula and optic nerve head were obtained by SS-OCTA. Vessel density (VD) of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus, radial peripapillary capillary and choriocapillaris (CC), choroidal vascularity index, foveal avascular zone area, macular thickness, macular ganglion cell complex thickness, choroidal thickness (CT), and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness were measured.Results Group A had significantly higher VD of SCP than group C (all p < 0.05), and group B had significantly lower VD of SCP than group C (all p < 0.05). The VD of CC was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C (p < 0.05). CT was significantly thicker in groups A and B than in group C (all p < 0.05). Multivariable regression analysis showed that the free triiodothyronine was significantly negatively correlated with the VD of SCP in the parafoveal regions in groups B and C (p < 0.05) and proptosis was significantly positively correlated with the VD of SCP in groups A and B (all p < 0.05).Conclusion We noted a difference in the VD of SCP and CC between patients with TAO and patients with hyperthyroidism without signs of TAO. These relative differences in ocular microvasculature indicated that local (orbital) and systemic (thyroid-related) factors may both play a role in disease presentation and progression, with orbital factors having a greater impact.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2478314Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathyhyperthyroidismswept-source optical coherence tomography angiographyretinal vessel densitychoroid thickness
spellingShingle Congbi Liang
Jingcheng Liu
Dihao Hua
Tianyue Cao
Yang Meng
Di Xiao
Hongmei Zheng
Zhen Chen
Changzheng Chen
Yishuang Xu
Retinal and choroidal microvascular analysis by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without clinical signs of TAO
Annals of Medicine
Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
hyperthyroidism
swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography
retinal vessel density
choroid thickness
title Retinal and choroidal microvascular analysis by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without clinical signs of TAO
title_full Retinal and choroidal microvascular analysis by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without clinical signs of TAO
title_fullStr Retinal and choroidal microvascular analysis by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without clinical signs of TAO
title_full_unstemmed Retinal and choroidal microvascular analysis by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without clinical signs of TAO
title_short Retinal and choroidal microvascular analysis by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and hyperthyroidism without clinical signs of TAO
title_sort retinal and choroidal microvascular analysis by swept source optical coherence tomography angiography in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy tao and hyperthyroidism without clinical signs of tao
topic Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
hyperthyroidism
swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography
retinal vessel density
choroid thickness
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2478314
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