Investigate the change of choroidal thickness in patients with common systemic autoimmune diseases:A review

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of choroidal thickness, measured via optical coherence tomography (OCT), as a biomarker for systemic inflammation in autoimmune diseases. Methods: A literature review of MEDLINE/PubMed databases regarding “Choroidal Thickness” in combination with specific autoimmune diseases: “Rheumatoid Arthritis”, “Systemic Lupus Erythematosus”, “Behçet’s Disease”, “Ankylosing Spondylitis” and “Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus”. The final search was completed on December 13, 2024. Results: Most studies revealed significant thinning of the choroid was noted in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients, while increased choroidal thickness is associated with active phases of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Behçet's Disease (BD), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), with reductions noted during remission. Conclusion: Although choroidal thickness shows potential as a biomarker for systemic inflammation, further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is needed to confirm its reliability in autoimmune disease monitoring.