Evaluation of Vascular and Perfusional Changes in the Retina and Choroid of Children with MIS-C.

BACKGROUND: MIS-C is hyperinflammation following Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and effects many organs. COVID-19 effects the retina and choroid through microangiopathy and thrombosis but the knowledge related to MIS-C in literature is limited.

METHODS: Thirty children (60 eyes) with MIS-C (Study group-SG) and age-and gender-matched, 32 healthy children (64 eyes) (Control group-CG) were included in the prospective case-control study. Complete ophthalmological examinations, measurements of the vessel densities of the retinal layers, and flow area of the outer retina and choriocapillaris in both groups were done with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).

RESULTS: The mean age of the SG was 11.9±3.9 and CG was 12.5±4.6 years (p=0.197). In this study we found that the vessel density of the deep layer of the inner retina was significantly decreased and reduced in the outer retina of flow area in SG compared to CG (p<0.05, for all). However, there was no significant difference between the groups for other measurements.

CONCLUSIONS: In MIS-C patients, vessel densities of the deep layer of the inner retina and flow area in the outer retina significantly decreased. This OCTA-A finding suggests; MIS-C is related with endothelial thrombotic condition problems in small branches of the retinal artery. The results of this study support the idea that there is a need for screening of MIS-C patients for the presence of these microangiopathic and perfusional complications.