Choroidal thickness in asymptomatic patients with carotid artery stenosis

Abstract

Aim: To measure the choroidal thickness (CT) with enhanced-depth imaging optic coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) in patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and to investigate the relationship between the CT and ICA stenosis. Material and methods: We included 36 eyes of 25 asymptomatic patients with 50% or higher ICA stenosis and 36 eyes of 21 healthy controls in the study. The CT was measured with EDI-OCT from a total of 6 points in both groups. The results were compared statistically between the groups. Results: There were no significant differences between patients with asymptomatic ICA stenosis and non-stenotic healthy individuals at subfoveal CT (P = 0.085), at 500 μm nasal to the fovea (P = 0.076), at 1,000 μm nasal to the fovea (P = 0.052), at 500 μm temporal to the fovea (P = 0.182), at 1,000 μm temporal to the fovea (P = 0.115) and at 1,500 μm temporal to the fovea (P = 0.174). Additionally, no significant difference was observed in CT values measured from 6 points between the stenotic side and the non-stenotic side in 14 patients with unilateral ICA stenosis (P > 0.05 for all points). Conclusion: The CT may not alter in asymptomatic ICA stenosis compared with healthy non-stenotic individuals. However, more studies are needed to corroborate our findings. © 2020, Czech Medical Association J.E. Purkyne. All rights reserved.