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- Title
The effect of vitamin D deficiency on the retinal microvasculature: an observational case-control study.
- Authors
Karabulut, Müjdat; Karabulut, Sinem; Dübektaş Canbek, Tugba; Sül, Sabahattin; Karalezli, Aylin
- Abstract
Purpose: To determine the effects of vitamin D deficiency on retinal microvascularity using optical coherence tomography angiography. Methods: This study was designed as an observational case-control study. Ninety-eight eyes of patients with vitamin D deficiency and 96 eyes of healthy participants with serum vitamin D level >30 ng/mL were studied. Macula centered, 6.00 X 6.00 mm scan size images were taken. The vessel densities in the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexus, foveal avascular zone area, and choriocapillaris flow area were measured. Results: The groups were comparable in terms of best-corrected visual acuity, sex, axial length, refractive error, age, and adjusted intraocular pressure. The average vitamin D level was significantly lower in the study group (p=0.021). The whole, parafoveal, and perifoveal vessel densities in the deep capillary plexus were considerably higher in the study group than in the control group (p=0.012, p=0.014, and p=0.023, respectively). The foveal avascular zone area and the choriocapillaris flow area were similar in both groups (p=0.37 and p=0.27, respectively) there was a strong negative correlation between the serum vitamin D level and vessel density in the whole image, parafoveal, and perifoveal regions of the deep capillary plexus in the study group (Spearman's rho=-0.71, p=0.043; Spearman's rho= -0.79, p=0.011; and Spearman's rho = -0.74, p=0.032; respectively). Conclusion: An increase in vessel density might originate from vascular structural changes caused by vitamin D deficiency. The increased vessel density, especially in the deep capillary plexus, can enable early diagnosis of vitamin D-associated vasculopathy.
- Subjects
VITAMIN D deficiency; CASE-control method; OPTICAL coherence tomography; RETINAL blood vessels; SCIENTIFIC observation; COHERENCE (Optics); VITAMIN D; HYPEROPIA
- Publication
Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia, 2022, Vol 85, Issue 6, p584
- ISSN
0004-2749
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5935/0004-2749.20220089