Improvement of Retinal Microcirculation after Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation—An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study
Philipp S. Lange,
Natasa Mihailovic,
Eliane Esser,
Gerrit Frommeyer,
Alicia J. Fischer,
Niklas Bode,
Dennis Höwel,
Friederike Rosenberger,
Nicole Eter,
Lars Eckardt,
Larissa Lahme,
Maged Alnawaiseh
Affiliations
Philipp S. Lange
Division of Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Natasa Mihailovic
Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Fulda, University of Marburg, Campus Fulda, D-36043 Fulda, Germany
Eliane Esser
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Gerrit Frommeyer
Division of Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Alicia J. Fischer
Division of Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Niklas Bode
Division of Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Dennis Höwel
Division of Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Friederike Rosenberger
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Nicole Eter
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Lars Eckardt
Division of Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Larissa Lahme
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
Maged Alnawaiseh
Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Fulda, University of Marburg, Campus Fulda, D-36043 Fulda, Germany
Purpose: To evaluate retinal and optic nerve head (ONH) perfusion in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) before and after catheter ablation of AF with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Methods: 34 eyes of 34 patients with AF and 35 eyes of 35 healthy subjects were included in this study. Flow density data were obtained using spectral-domain OCT-A (RTVue XR Avanti with AngioVue, Optovue, Inc, Fremont, California, USA). The data of the superficial and deep vascular layers of the macula and the ONH (radial peripapillary capillary network, RPC) before and after PVI were extracted and analysed. Results: The flow density in the superficial OCT-angiogram (whole en face) and the ONH (RPC) in patients with AF was significantly lower compared to healthy controls (OCT-A superficial: study group: 48.77 (45.19; 52.12)%; control group: 53.01 (50.00; 54.25)%; p p p = 0.007). Conclusions: Patients with AF showed altered ocular perfusion as measured using OCTA when compared with healthy controls. Rhythm control using PVI significantly improved ocular perfusion as measured using OCT-A. Non-contact imaging using OCTA provides novel information about the central global microperfusion of patients with AF.
