AUTHOR=Mucciolo Dario Pasquale , Giorgio Dario , Lippera Myrta , Passerini Ilaria , Pelo Elisabetta , Cipollini Francesca , Sodi Andrea , Virgili Gianni , Giansanti Fabrizio , Murro Vittoria 

TITLE=Choroidal Vascularity Index in CHM Carriers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Ophthalmology

VOLUME=1

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ophthalmology/articles/10.3389/fopht.2021.755058

DOI=10.3389/fopht.2021.755058

ISSN=2674-0826

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Purpose</title><p>To assess the choroidal structure using the Choroidal Vascularity Index (CVI) and analyse choroidal changes in choroideremia (CHM) carriers.</p></sec><sec><title>Material and Methods</title><p>Female CHM carriers, genetically characterized, and a control group were recruited at the Eye Clinic of Careggi Teaching Hospital, Florence. The patients underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation and retinal imaging. In particular, the Stromal Area (SA), Luminal Area (LA), Total Choroidal Area (TCA), CVI, and Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness (SFCT) were calculated for each eye using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) examinations.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Twelve eyes of 6 CHM carriers and 14 eyes of 7 age-matched controls were analysed. The mean SFCT was 270.9 ± 54.3μm in carriers and 281.4 ± 36.8μm in controls (p = 0.564); LA was 0.99 ± 0.25mm<sup>2</sup> and 1.01 ± 0.13mm<sup>2</sup> (p = 0.172); SA was 0.53 ± 0.09mm<sup>2</sup> and 0.59 ± 0.07mm<sup>2</sup> (p = 0.075), and TCA was 1.53 ± 0.34mm<sup>2</sup> and 1.69 ± 0.19mm<sup>2</sup> respectively (p = 0.146). Mean CVI measured 64.03 ± 3.98% in the CHM carriers and 65.25 ± 2.55% in the controls (p = 0.360).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>The CVI and CVI-related parameters (SA, LA, and TCA) do not differ between CHM female carriers and controls. These findings reveal a preserved choroidal vasculature in eyes with RPE impairment and support the primary role of RPE in the pathogenesis of CHM disease.</p></sec>