Central subfield thickness and cube average thickness as bioimaging biomarkers for ellipsoid zone disruption in diabetic retinopathy.

Background: To evaluate the association of central subfield thickness (CST) and cube average thickness (CAT) with ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Cross sectional study including consecutive patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus [without DR (No DR, n = 97); non-proliferative DR (NPDR, n = 91); proliferative DR (PDR, n = 83)] and healthy controls (n = 82) was undertaken. CST and CAT values were measured using SD-OCT. Data was analyzed using Chi square test, ANOVA and multivariate analysis. Discriminant values of CST and CAT for EZ disruption were evaluated using receiver operator characteristic curve. Area under curve (AUC) was computed.

Results: Mean CAT and CST values in the study subjects showed an incremental trend. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis showed increase in CST (OR = 1.022, p < 0.001) and CAT (OR = 1.029, p < 0.001) as significant independent predictors of EZ disruption. Area under curve showed excellent predictive results of CST (AUC = 0. 943 ± 0.021, 95% CI, 0.902-0.984, p < 0.05) and CAT (AUC = 0.959 ± 0.012, 95% CI 0.936-0.982, p < 0.05), as bioimaging biomarkers, for EZ disruption.

Conclusion: Increase in CST and CAT is associated with increased odds of EZ disruption and these macular parameters serve as bioimaging biomarkers for EZ disruption in DR.