Choroidal thickness changes in post-COVID-19 cases

ABSTRACT Purpose: The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on choroidal thickness using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. Methods: This study evaluated the right eyes from 41 post-COVID-19 cases (Group 1) and 41 healthy subjects (Group 2). Choroidal thickness was measured using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. Post-COVID-19 cases were evaluated within 1 month after a diagnosis of COVID-19. Two experienced ophthalmologists measured the choroidal thickness at the subfovea, temporal, and nasal quadrants at 500-μm intervals up to 1500 μm from the fovea at seven different points. Moreover, central macular thickness and ganglion cell layer thickness were measured via OCT, after which both two groups were compared. Results: Group 1 showed a significantly thicker choroid compared to Group 2 at the subfovea, 500 μm temporal to the fovea, 500 and 1000 μm nasal to the fovea (p=0.011, p=0.043, p=0.009, and p=0.019, respectively). Although other areas measured were also thicker in Group 1, the difference was not significant (p>0.05). Moreover, no significant difference in the central macular thickness and ganglion cell layer thickness were observed between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Choroidal thickness was increased in post-COVID-19 patients, which might be related to inflammation associated with the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

摘要
研究目的：本研究旨在采用增强深度成像光学相干断层扫描（enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography）评估新型冠状病毒肺炎（coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19）对脉络膜厚度的影响。
研究方法：本研究纳入41例新冠感染后患者（组1）与41名健康受试者（组2），均对其右眼进行评估。采用增强深度成像光学相干断层扫描测量脉络膜厚度。新冠感染后患者均于确诊后1个月内接受评估。由2名经验丰富的眼科医师，在距黄斑中心凹0至1500μm范围内以500μm为间隔，于7个不同点位（黄斑中心凹下、颞侧及鼻侧象限）测量脉络膜厚度。此外，通过光学相干断层扫描（optical coherence tomography, OCT）测量中央黄斑厚度与神经节细胞层厚度，随后对两组受试者进行比较。
研究结果：与组2相比，组1在黄斑中心凹下、距黄斑中心凹颞侧500μm处、距黄斑中心凹鼻侧500μm及1000μm处的脉络膜厚度显著更厚（分别为p=0.011、p=0.043、p=0.009及p=0.019）。尽管其余测量点位的脉络膜厚度在组1中也偏厚，但差异无统计学意义（p>0.05）。此外，两组受试者的中央黄斑厚度与神经节细胞层厚度均无显著差异（p>0.05）。
研究结论：新冠感染后患者的脉络膜厚度有所增加，这可能与新型冠状病毒肺炎发病机制相关的炎症反应有关。