Association between lower extremity venous insufficiency and increased choroidal thickness

Abstract

Purpose. - The goal of this study is to investigate the association between the choroid and lower extremity venous insufficiency (LEVI). Methods. - This prospective cross-sectional study includes 56 patients with LEVI and 50 age/sex-similar control subjects. Choroidal thickness (CT) measurements from 5 different points were captured from all participants by optical coherence tomography. In the group with LEVI on physical examination, reflux at the saphenofemoral junction, and the diameter of the great and small saphenous veins were evaluated via color Doppler ultrasonography. Results. - The mean subfoveal CT was higher in the varicose group than in the control group (363.04 +/- 99.75 mu m vs. 320.30 +/- 73.46 mu m, P = 0.013). In addition, the CTs at the temporal 3 mm, temporal 1 mm, nasal 1 mm, and nasal 3 mm distance from the fovea were higher in the LEVI group compared to the controls (for all, P < 0.05). There was no correlation between CT and diameter of the great and small saphenous vein in patients with LEVI (for all, P > 0.05). However, the great and small saphenous veins of patients with CT above 400 mu m were observed to be wider in patients with LEVI (P = 0.027 and P = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion. - Varicose veins can be a feature of systemic venous pathology. Another componentof systemic venous disease may be increased CT. Patients with high CT should be investigatedfor susceptibility to LEVI. (c) 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.