Comparison of Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD OCT) Findings with Laser Flare Photometry (LFP) Measurements in Behçet's Uveitis.

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare the spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) findings and laser flare photometry (LFP) measurements in Behçet's disease (BD).

METHODS: This study was composed of 4 groups as follows: "Group 1: Healthy volunteers, Group 2: Volunteers with BD and no eye involvement, Group 3: Patients with active uveitis with BD, Group 4: Patients with BD in quiescent phase of uveitis". Laser Flare Photometry (Kowa FM-600, Kowa Acculas, San Jose, CA, USA), SD-OCT and Enhanced Depth Imaging protocol (EDI) (Spectralis®, Heidelberg Engineering Inc., Heidelberg, Germany) and Fundus Florescein Angiography (FFA) (Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2®; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) were performed for all patients.

RESULTS: Twenty-four eyes of 12 healthy volunteers (Group 1); 61 eyes without ocular involvement of 31 volunteers with BD (Group 2); 29 active uveitic eyes of 17 patients with BD (Group 3); 35 eyes with quiescent uveitis in 18 patients with BD (Group 4) participated in the evaluation. There was a significant difference between visual acuity, submacular choroidal thickness (SCT), and flare values comparison among the groups(p<0.001,p<0.002, and p<0.001). When compared considering the SCT, choroidal thickness in Group 3 was higher than in the eyes of Group 1 and Group 2 (p:0.005, p:0.006). Central macular thickness (CMT) and disease duration were negatively correlated (rho:-0.453, p<0.001), while CMT and flare values were positively correlated (rho:0.267,p:0.006).

CONCLUSION: Flare is a reliable indicator of the inflammation in Behçet's uveitis. Its concurrent use with OCT to evaluate choroid and macula enables the assessment of inflammation.