Retinal vessel density and choroidal flow changes in oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis with and without uveitis

Purpose This cross-sectional optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) study aimed to assess the macular and optic nerve head (ONH) vascular density, foveal avascular zone, and outer retina and choriocapillaris flow in oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (oJIA). Study design Prospective. Methods Twenty-two eyes of 22 oJIA patients with uveitis (oJIA-U), 20 eyes of 20 oJIA patients without uveitis (isolated oJIA), and 26 healthy volunteers of similar ages and sexes were investigated. The superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), ONH, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters, the flow area of the outer retina, and choriocapillaris were evaluated. Results Compared with the control group, both the oJIA-U group and isolated oJIA group showed significantly decreased vessel density of parafovea ( p = 0.031 and p = 0.047, respectively) in DCP. Choriocapillaris flow area at 1 mm radius was significantly lower in the oJIA-U group compared to the control group ( p = 0.001). Choriocapillaris flow area at 2- and 3-mm radius were significantly lower in the oJIA-U group compared to the control group ( p