Long-term Change of Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Behçet's Disease Patients with Posterior Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term changes of subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) in Behçet's disease (BD) patients with posterior uveitis.

METHODS

Changes in SCT measured with enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography during quiescent phase were assessed during >24 months in 63 BD patients and control group.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics showed no difference, but the BD group showed poorer visual acuity (p = 0.013) and smaller SCT (p = 0.006) at final examination. Mean SCT in the BD group decreased from 291.0 to 268.1 μm (p<0.001) during the mean period of 38.5 months. Mean change rate of SCT in the BD group was greater than controls (-7.2 vs 2.0 μm/year; p<0.001) and was associated with longer active inflammation (p<0.001). Patients with longer disease duration showed smaller baseline SCT (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

In BD patients, choroidal thickness decreased over time, which was associated with length of active inflammation. It suggests intraocular inflammation in BD affects the choroid as well as the retina.