Unveiling Key Pathological Indicators for Disease Progression in Vogt Koyanagi Harada Disease and Sympathetic Ophthalmia Through Advanced Choroidal Volume Analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between quantitative parameters derived from volume analysis of optical coherence tomography (OCT) data and disease worsening in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKHD) and sympathetic ophthalmia (SO).

Methods: This retrospective study, conducted at Osaka University Hospital, employed swept-source OCT scans from patients diagnosed with VKHD or SO between October 2012 and January 2021. The choroidal vessel structure was segmented and visualized in three dimensions, generating quantitative vessel volume maps. Region-specific choroidal vessel volume (CVV), choroidal volume (CV), and vessel index (VI) were scrutinized for their potential correlation with disease severity.

Results: Thirty-five eyes of 18 VKHD and 2 SO patient (8 females, 10 males) were evaluated. OCT-derived CVV maps revealed regional CV alterations in VKHD and SO patients. Two parameters, i.e. CV at 3- and 6-month follow-ups (p = 0.044, p = 0.040, respectively, with area under the ROC curve of 0.70) and CVV at 6 months (p = 0.046, area under the ROC curve of 0.71), were significantly higher in recurrent VKHD and SO compared to effectively treated cases.

Conclusions: The volume analysis of OCT images facilitates a three-dimensional visualization of choroidal alterations, which may serve as a reflection of disease severity in VKHD and SO patients. Furthermore, noninvasive initial CVV or CV measurements may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting disease recurrence in VKHD and SO.