Comparison of Retinal Microvascular Changes in Axial Spondyloarthritis Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: Anti-TNF vs. NSAID Therapy.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate retinal and choroidal microvascular changes in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) treated with long-term anti-TNF therapy and NSAIDs and in healthy control subjects using optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCT-A).

Methods

A total of 162 eyes from 81 participants were included: 52 eyes from 26 axSpA patients treated with anti-TNF therapy (≥5 years), 44 eyes from 22 axSpA patients treated with NSAIDs, and 66 eyes from 33 healthy control subjects. SS-OCT-A imaging was used to assess retinal thickness, ganglion cell layer thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and the vessel densities of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and choriocapillaris (CC). Disease activity was assessed with ASDAS-CRP.

Results

Both axSpA subgroups showed a significant expansion of the foveal avascular zone and reduced SCP and DCP densities compared to the controls. The CC vessel density was higher in axSpA patients than in healthy subjects. The anti-TNF group had a lower CC vascular density than the NSAIDs group. The disease duration correlated with a decreased central DCP density and increased paracentral SCP and CC densities.

Conclusions

SS-OCT-A revealed subclinical retinal and choroidal changes in axSpA patients, highlighting the impact of chronic inflammation on the retinal vasculature. While anti-TNF therapy effectively controls systemic inflammation, it cannot completely prevent microvascular changes. Further studies are needed to assess the clinical relevance of these results.