A DEEPER ASSESSMENT OF VARIOUS CHOROIDAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC BIOMARKERS AMONG SYMPTOMATIC PACHYCHOROID SPECTRUM ENTITIES WITHIN A TERTIARY REFERRAL CENTER.

Abstract

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate age, sex, intervortex vein anastomosis|intervortex vein anastomoses (IVA), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) across different entities of the pachychoroid spectrum (PCS). A total of 147 eyes were analyzed, including: 65 chronic central serous chorioretinopathy, 29 uncomplicated pachychoroid (UCP), 25 pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy (PPE), 15 pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV), nine aneurysmal choroidal neovascularization Type 1 (ACNV-1), and four peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome. Subfoveal choroidal thickness was assessed by optical coherence tomography and IVA by indocyanine green angiography. Neovascular PCS entities (PNV, ACNV-1) were significantly older (61 ± 10 vs. 54 ± 12 years, P = 0.003) and had a higher female prevalence (57% vs. 22%, P < 0.001) than their nonneovascular counterparts. Intervortex vein anastomosis|intervortex vein anastomoses differed only between UCP and PPE (31% vs. 64%, P = 0.03), with a trend toward lower SFCT in IVA-positive eyes. While ANOVA showed SFCT differences among PCS entities, multivariable regression identified age ( P < 0.001) and neovascular status ( P = 0.01) as independently and inversely associated with SFCT. Neovascular PCS entities were characterized by older age, higher female prevalence, and reduced SFCT. Both age and neovascularization independently associated with reduced SFCT, suggesting a potential role in choroidal remodeling. Intervortex vein anastomosis|intervortex vein anastomoses showed a limited discriminatory value but was associated with a trend toward lower SFCT.