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Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
Nevine M. El Nahas, Tamer Mahmoud El Sayed Roushdy, Mona Mokhtar Wahid El Din, Mona Elsayed Ahmed Abdellatif, Sara Gaber, Weam Mohamed Ebeid, Hossam Shokri. The Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 2025-05-26
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Abstract Background Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a quick, noninvasive modality that visualizes retinal microvasculature. The retina is known to be the mirror of the brain, thus it is pertinent to employ OCTA to study covert cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Methods This is an observational case–control study of 40 patients with CSVD and 20 healthy controls. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was performed for all subjects, to exclude dementia. Fazekas grading and SVD score were determined by MRI. OCTA was performed for both groups and included various parameters of superficial and deep retinal capillary plexus density, macular, foveal and ganglion cell complex thickness, in addition to optic nerve head scans. Results Seventy percent of the patients had a low SVD score (1). Case group had significantly lower scores on most parameters of retinal capillary plexus density and macular thickness p < 0.05. Impairment of OCTA parameters was associated with higher Fazekas and SVD scores. Conclusion OCTA is a handy, noninvasive tool that enables the visualization of diminished retinal microvascular density in cases of early CSVD. It can serve as a screening tool for identifying vulnerable populations, facilitating early management for CSVD.
Key findings
- Results Seventy percent of the patients had a low SVD score (1).
- Case group had significantly lower scores on most parameters of retinal capillary plexus density and macular thickness p < 0.05.
- Impairment of OCTA parameters was associated with higher Fazekas and SVD scores.
Why it matters
In this small case-control study of 40 patients with cerebral small vessel disease and 20 controls, patients had significantly lower retinal capillary plexus density and macular thickness, and these impairments were associated with higher Fazekas and SVD scores. The authors suggest OCTA could serve as a screening tool for early small vessel disease, but it is a small observational study and not a treatment.
Study details
- Participants40
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 32/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | The Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery: journal h-index 35 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 40 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Hossam Shokri: h-index 11 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Ain Shams University: institution h-index 314 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 32 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s41983-025-00973-6
- Original source →
- Free full text: The Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
El Nahas, N. M., Roushdy, T. M. E. S., El Din, M. M. W., Abdellatif, M. E. A., Gaber, S., Ebeid, W. M., et al. (2025). Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease. The Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-025-00973-6
Vancouver
El Nahas NM, Roushdy TMES, El Din MMW, Abdellatif MEA, Gaber S, Ebeid WM, et al. Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease. The Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery. 2025. doi:10.1186/s41983-025-00973-6.
BibTeX
@article{elnahas2025-09badbf7,
author = {El Nahas, Nevine M. and Roushdy, Tamer Mahmoud El Sayed and El Din, Mona Mokhtar Wahid and Abdellatif, Mona Elsayed Ahmed and Gaber, Sara and Ebeid, Weam Mohamed and Shokri, Hossam},
title = {{Retinal vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography as a potential biomarker in patients with cerebral small vessel disease}},
journal = {The Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s41983-025-00973-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-025-00973-6}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.