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Manfredini M, Ragusa E, Gibertini M, Bigi L, Ferrari B, Lasagni C, Magnoni C, Lazzerini A, Farnetani F, Verdina T. Retinal Microvascular Alterations in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patients: A Pilot Study Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography. J Clin Med 2024; 13:1464. [PMID: 38592296 PMCID: PMC10932047 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13051464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a relapsing-remitting inflammatory disease characterized by the progression of asymptomatic nodules to deep-seated lesions and fistula formation that leads to suppuration and scarring. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a new non-invasive imaging technique that carefully analyzes retinal microvasculature networks with high-resolution imaging. Recent studies have demonstrated that retinal vessel density and retinal perfusion reflect systemic inflammatory responses. This study's aim was to analyze OCTA-derived retinal microvasculature parameters to understand if patients affected by HS and without any relevant ocular or systemic comorbidities showed impaired retinal vascular function and morphology. Method: We performed a case-control study of HS patients and age- and sex-matched control cohort. A total of 20 eyes from 10 HS patients and 30 eyes from 15 healthy controls were analyzed, and OCTA-derived microvasculature parameters were compared between groups. Results: OCTA images showed that HS patients, compared to healthy controls, were typically characterized by higher values of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) both in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and in the deep capillary plexus (DCP), and by lower values of vessel density (VD)-SCP, VD-DCP, and vessel length density (VLD)-SCP in the foveal region. These findings partially reflect changes that have been demonstrated in diabetic patients that could be induced by a protracted metabolic or systemic inflammatory dysregulation. Conclusions: In conclusion, OCTA enables large-scale, non-invasive visual screening and follow-up of the retinal vasculature features, providing a new strategy for the prevention and monitoring of visual changes in HS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Manfredini
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy (C.L.)
| | - Emanuele Ragusa
- Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Matteo Gibertini
- Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Bigi
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy (C.L.)
| | - Barbara Ferrari
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy (C.L.)
| | - Claudia Lasagni
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy (C.L.)
| | - Cristina Magnoni
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy (C.L.)
| | - Andrea Lazzerini
- Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Francesca Farnetani
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy (C.L.)
| | - Tommaso Verdina
- Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Rák T, Kovács-Valasek A, Pöstyéni E, Csutak A, Gábriel R. Complementary Approaches to Retinal Health Focusing on Diabetic Retinopathy. Cells 2023; 12:2699. [PMID: 38067127 PMCID: PMC10705724 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus affects carbohydrate homeostasis but also influences fat and protein metabolism. Due to ophthalmic complications, it is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The molecular pathology reveals that nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) has a central role in the progression of diabetic retinopathy, sharing this signaling pathway with another major retinal disorder, glaucoma. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches can be elaborated to decelerate the ever-emerging "epidemics" of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma targeting this critical node. In our review, we emphasize the role of an improvement of lifestyle in its prevention as well as the use of phytomedicals associated with evidence-based protocols. A balanced personalized therapy requires an integrative approach to be more successful for prevention and early treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tibor Rák
- Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Centre, Medical School, University of Pécs, Rákóczi út 2., 7623 Pécs, Hungary; (T.R.)
| | - Andrea Kovács-Valasek
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Etelka Pöstyéni
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Adrienne Csutak
- Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Centre, Medical School, University of Pécs, Rákóczi út 2., 7623 Pécs, Hungary; (T.R.)
| | - Róbert Gábriel
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
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