ENHANCED DEPTH IMAGING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY OF THE CHOROID IN VOGT–KOYANAGI–HARADA DISEASE

Abstract

Purpose: 

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) using enhanced depth imaging (EDI) allows evaluation of choroidal thickness. Our objective was to analyze subfoveal choroidal thickness by EDI-OCT before and after the initiation of high-dose corticosteroid treatment in 8 patients (16 eyes) with new-onset acute Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease.

Methods: 

Retrospective review of clinical records.

Results: 

The outer border of the choroid was not evident by EDI-OCT in any patients at presentation. Subfoveal choroidal thickness was measurable by 1 week after the initiation of treatment (mean, 578 μm) and decreased thereafter (mean at 1 month, 397 μm; 3 months, 392 μm; 6 months, 384 μm; 12 months, 332 μm). Rebound of choroidal thickening was observed in three patients (five eyes) during corticosteroid tapering in the absence of other evidence of increased inflammation. Peripapillary atrophy was present at 12 months in 6 of 6 eyes that had a choroidal thickness >550 μm at 1 week after initiating treatment, in contrast to none of the 8 eyes with a choroidal thickness ≤550 μm (P = 0.0003).

Conclusion: 

Enhanced depth imaging–optical coherence tomography revealed decreasing choroidal thickness with high-dose corticosteroid treatment in our patients. Choroidal thickness as measured by EDI-OCT may serve as a marker for degree of choroidal inflammation in acute VKH disease.

In Brief

Diffuse choroiditis is a manifestation of acute Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease. In this study, we analyzed subfoveal choroidal thickness as measured by EDI-OCT in 8 patients (16 eyes) with new-onset acute VKH disease before and during the course of corticosteroid treatment over 12 months of follow-up.