ABSTRACT
Purpose: To longitudinally investigate the changes in intraretinal microvascular abnormalities (IRMAs) over time, employing swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in eyes with diabetic retinopathy. Methods: In this retrospective, longitudinal study, we evaluated 12 × 12-mm swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography centered on the macula at baseline and last available follow-up visit for (1) IRMA changes during follow-up, defined as (a) stable, (b) regressed, (c) obliterated, and (d) progressed; and the (2) development of new neovascularization (NV) and their origins. Competing-risk survival analysis was used to assess the factors associated with these changes. Results: In total, 195 eyes from 131 participants with diabetic retinopathy were included. Stable, regressed, obliterated, and progressed IRMA were observed in 65.1%, 12.8%, 11.3%, and 19% of eyes with diabetic retinopathy, respectively. Anti-VEGF injections during the follow-up periods and a slower increase of foveal avascular zone were associated with IRMA regression (P < 0.001 and P = 0.039). Obliterated IRMA were correlated with previous panretinal photocoagulation (P < 0.001) and a lower deep capillary plexus vessel density at baseline (P = 0.007), as well as with follow-up anti-VEGF injections (P = 0.025). A higher baseline ischemia index (ISI) and panretinal photocoagulation during the follow-up periods were associated with IRMA progression (P = 0.049 and P < 0.001). A faster increase in ISI predicted the development of NV elsewhere (NVE) from veins (P < 0.001). No significant factors were found to be associated with NVE originating from IRMA. Conclusions: Changes in IRMA closely correlated with the severity of retinal ischemia and treatment. Notably, our study confirmed the potential, yet relatively rare, development of NVE from IRMA in a large cohort; however, the risk factors associated with this transformation require further exploration.
Subject(s)
Diabetic Retinopathy , Fluorescein Angiography , Retinal Vessels , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Humans , Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods , Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnosis , Male , Retrospective Studies , Female , Middle Aged , Retinal Vessels/pathology , Retinal Vessels/diagnostic imaging , Fluorescein Angiography/methods , Follow-Up Studies , Aged , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnosis , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Visual Acuity , Microvessels/pathology , Microvessels/diagnostic imaging , Fundus Oculi , Disease Progression , Longitudinal Studies , AdultABSTRACT
Extraretinal neovascularization is a hallmark of treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) offers vascular flow and depth information not available from indirect ophthalmoscopy and structural OCT, but OCTA is only commercially available as a tabletop device. In this study, we used an investigational handheld OCTA device to study the vascular flow in and around retinal neovascularization in seven preterm infants with treatment-requiring ROP and contrasted them to images of vascular flow in six infants of similar age without neovascular ROP. We showed stages of retinal neovascularization visible in preterm infants from 32 to 47 weeks postmenstrual age: Intraretinal neovascularization did not break through the internal limiting membrane; Subclinical neovascular buds arose from retinal vasculature with active flow through the internal limiting membrane; Flat neovascularization in aggressive ROP assumed a low-lying configuration compared to elevated extraretinal neovascular plaques; Regressed neovascularization following treatment exhibited decreased vascular flow within the preretinal tissue, but flow persisted in segments of retinal vessels elevated from their original intraretinal location. These findings enable a pilot classification of retinal neovascularization in eyes with ROP using OCTA, and may be helpful in detailed monitoring of disease progression, treatment response and predicting reactivation.
Subject(s)
Infant, Newborn, Diseases , Retinal Neovascularization , Retinopathy of Prematurity , Infant , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Infant, Premature , Retinopathy of Prematurity/diagnostic imaging , Retinopathy of Prematurity/drug therapy , Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods , Fluorescein Angiography/methods , Retinal Vessels/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
To investigate the fluorescein angiography (FA) findings and compare the extent of retinal vascularization in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), recovered after intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) monotherapy and those regressed spontaneously. Infants with a history of ROP who underwent FA between April 2018 and November 2021 were retrospectively included. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether they had received IVR (IVR group) or had ROP that regressed spontaneously without treatment (untreated group). The differences between the two groups in zone II ROP were also compared, to equalize the subgroups as much as possible in terms of disease severity. FA findings were recorded. The extent of vascularization was measured by the ratio of the distance from the center of the disk to the border of the vascularized zone (DB) and the distance from the center of the disk to the center of the fovea (DF). The width of the persistent avascular retina (PAR) was counted by disc diameters (DD). One hundred and ten eyes of 55 infants were included in the IVR group and 76 eyes of 38 babies in the untreated group. The ratio of abnormal shape of vessels was significantly higher in the IVR group than in the untreated group (50.9% vs. 35.5%; P = 0.038), while the linear choroidal filling pattern, tortuosity of vessels over the posterior pole, dye leakage, anomalous branching of vessels, circumferential vessels, arteriovenous shunt, abnormal capillary bed, and macular abnormalities were similarly. There was a smaller temporal DB/DF ratio (4.48 vs. 4.63; P = 0.003) and greater PAR (2.63 vs. 1.76; P < 0.001) in the IVR group compared to the untreated group. In zone II ROP, the progression of retinal vascularization was significantly larger in the IVR group than that in the untreated group (P = 0.003), while no statistical differences were observed in FA features, the DB/DF ratio, and PAR between the two subgroups. The residual vascular abnormalities and PAR may be common results of ROP regression. The DB/DF ratio of 4.0 temporally and 3.3 nasally could be used as the preliminary indicators for safe retinal vascularization in the completion of ROP regression.
Subject(s)
Retinal Neovascularization , Retinopathy of Prematurity , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Humans , Ranibizumab/therapeutic use , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Retinopathy of Prematurity/diagnostic imaging , Retinopathy of Prematurity/drug therapy , Infant, Premature , Retrospective Studies , Fluorescein Angiography/methods , Intravitreal Injections , Renal Dialysis , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Gestational AgeABSTRACT
Idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel 2) is a slow and progressive bilateral condition that affects middle-aged and elderly individuals. Vision loss is generally mild and occurs over the course of many years. The development of sub-retinal neovascularisation (SRNV) can occur late in the disease process, and lead to more dramatic vision loss. A report is presented of 2â¯cases of MacTel 2 in which optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was essential for the diagnosis of secondary SRNV. The commercially available OCTA Cirrus AngioPlex 5000 platform (Zeiss, Jena, Germany) was used. Subretinal neovascularization was detectable in both cases in OCTA at the level of the deep capillary plexus and the avascular layer. OCTA also allowed us to monitor disease progression and monitor response to anti-VEGF therapy.
Subject(s)
Retinal Neovascularization , Retinal Telangiectasis , Aged , Angiography , Humans , Middle Aged , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Retinal Neovascularization/etiology , Retinal Telangiectasis/complications , Retinal Telangiectasis/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, Optical Coherence/methodsABSTRACT
La telangiectasia macular idiopática tipo 2 (MacTel 2) es una afección bilateral, lenta y progresiva que afecta a individuos de mediana edad y ancianos. La pérdida de visión es generalmente leve y ocurre en el transcurso de muchos años. El desarrollo de neovascularización subretiniana (NVSR) puede ocurrir tarde en el proceso de la enfermedad y conducir a una pérdida de visión más dramática. Presentamos 2casos de MacTel 2 donde la angiografía por tomografía de coherencia óptica (OCTA) fue fundamental para el diagnóstico de NVSR secundaria. Se utilizó la plataforma comercialmente disponible OCTA Cirrus AngioPlex 5000 (Zeiss, Jena, Alemania). La NVSR fue detectable en ambos casos con OCTA a nivel del plexo capilar profundo y en la capa avascular. La OCTA también nos permitió controlar la progresión de la enfermedad y monitorizar la respuesta a la terapia anti-VEGF (AU)
Idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel 2) is a slow and progressive bilateral condition that affects middle-aged and elderly individuals. Vision loss is generally mild and occurs over the course of many years. The development of sub-retinal neovascularisation (SRNV) can occur late in the disease process, and lead to more dramatic vision loss. A report is presented of 2cases of MacTel 2 in which optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was essential for the diagnosis of secondary SRNV. The commercially available OCTA Cirrus AngioPlex 5000 platform (Zeiss, Jena, Germany) was used. Subretinal neovascularization was detectable in both cases in OCTA at the level of the deep capillary plexus and the avascular layer. OCTA also allowed us to monitor disease progression and monitor response to anti-VEGF therapy (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Angiography/methods , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Retinal Telangiectasis/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Telangiectasis/complications , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/etiologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To explore the condition of fellow eyes of patients with macular neovascularization Type 3 (MNV3) and to verify whether the retinal-choroidal anastomosis (RCA) develops equally in all MNV types. METHODS: The contralateral eyes of 94 patients with MNV3, 96 patients with MNV1, and 96 patients with MNV2 were included. Multimodal imaging was performed. The MNV3 stage including the development of fibrosis and RCA over 24 months was determined. RESULTS: In the contralateral eyes of patients of the solitary (one lesion) MNV3 group, 32 eyes (42.1%) showed early/intermediate age-related macular degeneration, 25 eyes (33%) showed MNV3, and 11 eyes (14.5%) experienced fibrosis, of which 4 eyes (5.2%) had a RCA, 7 eyes (9.2%) had atrophy after resolved MNV3, and 1 eye (1.3%) developed MNV1. In the multifocal (more than one lesion) MNV3 group, 2 eyes (11.1%) showed early/intermediate age-related macular degeneration, 9 eyes (50%) showed 15 MNV3 lesions, and 4 eyes (22.2%) showed fibrosis, of which 2 eyes (11.1%) manifested with a RCA and 3 eyes (16.7%) showed atrophy after resolved MNV3. The number of eyes with a RCA accounted for 40% of all eyes with fibrosis. The count of simultaneous bilateral multifocal MNV3 was 5 (55.6%). In the MNV1 and MNV2 groups, no eye developed a RCA. The incidence of RCAs in the scarred eyes in MNV3 was significantly higher (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Retinal-choroidal anastomosis is an exclusive clinical feature of MNV3. The development of the multifocal MNV3 is usually bilateral and simultaneous. The occurrence of fibrosis in MNV3 has decreased dramatically after the introduction of the antiangiogenic therapy.
Subject(s)
Arterio-Arterial Fistula/diagnostic imaging , Choroid/blood supply , Ciliary Arteries/pathology , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Vessels/pathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Ciliary Arteries/diagnostic imaging , Coloring Agents/administration & dosage , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Fibrosis/diagnosis , Fluorescein Angiography , Follow-Up Studies , Geographic Atrophy/diagnosis , Humans , Indocyanine Green/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Multimodal Imaging , Retina/pathology , Retinal Vessels/diagnostic imaging , Retrospective Studies , Time Factors , Tomography, Optical CoherenceABSTRACT
To find baseline predictors for subretinal fibrosis (SF) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Forty-five eyes of 45 participants with treatment-naïve nAMD were consecutively enrolled and treated according to a standardized treat-and-extend protocol. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), color fundus photography and fluorescein angiography as well as novel imaging modalities polarization-sensitive OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA) were performed to detect SF after 1 year and find baseline predictors for SF development. Baseline OCTA scans were evaluated for quantitative features such as lesion area, vessel area, vessel junctions, vessel length, vessel endpoints and mean lacunarity. Additionally, the type of macular neovascularization, the presence of subretinal fluid, intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM), retinal hemorrhage as well as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were evaluated. After 12 months 8 eyes (18%) developed SF. Eyes with SF had worse baseline BCVA (p = .001) and a higher prevalence of IRF (p = .014) and SHRM at baseline (p = .017). There was no significant difference in any of the evaluated quantitative OCTA parameters (p > .05) between eyes with and without SF. There were no quantitative baseline microvascular predictors for SF in our study. Low baseline BCVA, the presence of IRF and SHRM, however, are easily identifiable baseline parameters indicating increased risk.
Subject(s)
Fluorescein Angiography , Macular Degeneration/diagnostic imaging , Photography , Retina/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Female , Fibrosis , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Macular Degeneration/drug therapy , Macular Degeneration/pathology , Macular Degeneration/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Prospective Studies , Retina/drug effects , Retina/pathology , Retina/physiopathology , Retinal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Retinal Neovascularization/pathology , Retinal Neovascularization/physiopathology , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess use of lncRNAs as biomarkers in serum and aqueous humor of patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). MATERIAL AND METHODS Optical coherence tomography and fundus photography were used to analyze the retinal features of the patients. RT-qPCR was used to analyze the differential expression of lncRNA snhg5 in patients who have idiopathic macular hole (MH), DME, or refractory DME. The relationship between SNHG5 and the clinical characteristics of the patients was analyzed. The effect of SNHG5 on the hyperplasia and apoptosis of human retino-microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) and its mechanism were analyzed in vitro. RESULTS Patients with idiopathic MH developed retinal nerve epithelium rupture and retinal fundus thickening, and patients with DME or refractory DME showed significant macular edema with hemorrhaging. The refractory DME patients improved after treatment but still showed significant macular edema and multiple laser scarring. SNHG5 expression was not only low in the atrial fluid and plasma in DME patients, but also lower in the refractory DME group compared to the idiopathic MH patients. SNHG5 expression in the aqueous humor and plasma was negatively correlated with disease duration, body mass index, and levels of fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, proteinuria, and glycosuria. In the in vitro experiments, SNHG5 expression was significantly downregulated in high glucose-induced HMECs. After SNHG5 overexpression, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and VEGF-A protein levels were distinctly downregulated. CONCLUSIONS SNHG5 correlates with the development of DME and is a potential target for therapy.
Subject(s)
Aqueous Humor/metabolism , Diabetic Retinopathy , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Macular Edema/metabolism , RNA, Long Noncoding , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism , Biomarkers/blood , Biomarkers/metabolism , Diabetic Retinopathy/blood , Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnosis , Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology , Female , Fluorescein Angiography/methods , Gene Expression Profiling/methods , Humans , Macular Edema/diagnosis , Macular Edema/etiology , Male , Middle Aged , RNA, Long Noncoding/blood , RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism , Retina/diagnostic imaging , Retina/pathology , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/etiology , Retinal Vessels/pathology , Retinal Vessels/physiopathology , Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonists have been used for treating metastatic neoplasms. It has also been known that one of its side effects is to cause proteinuria and renal failure in the setting of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). The underlying mechanism is likely due to the inhibition of VEGF production in podocytes, resulting in diffuse fusion of foot processes and impaired glomerular endothelial fenestrations, and leading to massive proteinuria and subsequent glomerular endothelium injury. Intravitreal injection of VEGF antagonists (IIVA) has been also used to treat macular degeneration and diabetic retinal neo-vascular proliferation. The majority of patients tolerate the treatment well. However, IIVA can lead to renal dysfunction including proteinuria and gradual renal failure as a rare side effect. The goal of this study was to report two cases related to the nephrotoxicity of IIVA and review the literature associated with this topic. CASE REPORT: The first diabetic patient had elevated serum creatinine at 3.25 mg/dl and proteinuria/creatinine ratio at 6.1 after 48-month treatment of IIVA. The first renal biopsy revealed thrombotic microangiopathy that was correlated with his increased serum creatinine and nephrotic range of proteinuria. The second diabetic patient had increased serum creatinine up to 1.89 mg/dl but low proteinuria. The second biopsy showed acute tubular necrosis that was correlated with his elevated serum creatinine. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of VEGF antagonist can be associated with thrombotic microangiopathy and acute tubular necrosis, leading to renal dysfunction.
Subject(s)
Acute Kidney Injury , Bevacizumab , Diabetic Retinopathy , Kidney Cortex Necrosis , Retinal Neovascularization , Thrombotic Microangiopathies , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors , Acute Kidney Injury/blood , Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced , Acute Kidney Injury/diagnosis , Acute Kidney Injury/therapy , Aged , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/adverse effects , Bevacizumab/administration & dosage , Bevacizumab/adverse effects , Biopsy/methods , Creatinine/blood , Diabetic Retinopathy/complications , Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnosis , Diabetic Retinopathy/drug therapy , Humans , Intravitreal Injections/methods , Kidney Cortex Necrosis/etiology , Kidney Cortex Necrosis/pathology , Kidney Function Tests/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Proteinuria/diagnosis , Proteinuria/etiology , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/etiology , Thrombotic Microangiopathies/diagnostic imaging , Thrombotic Microangiopathies/etiology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Blood leakage from the vessels in the eye is the hallmark of many vascular eye diseases. One of the preclinical mouse models of retinal blood leakage, the very-low-density-lipoprotein receptor deficient mouse (Vldlr-/-), is used for drug screening and mechanistic studies. Vessel leakage is usually examined using Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). However, interpreting FFA images of the Vldlr-/- model is challenging as no automated and objective techniques exist for this model. A pipeline has been developed for quantifying leakage intensity and area including three tasks: (i) blood leakage identification, (ii) blood vessel segmentation, and (iii) image registration. Morphological operations followed by log-Gabor quadrature filters were used to identify leakage regions. In addition, a novel optic disk detection algorithm based on graph analysis was developed for registering the images at different timepoints. Blood leakage intensity and area measured by the methodology were compared to ground truth quantifications produced by two annotators. The relative difference between the quantifications from the method and those obtained from ground truth images was around 10% ± 6% for leakage intensity and 17% ± 8% for leakage region. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the method results and the ground truth was around 0.98 for leakage intensity and 0.94 for leakage region. Therefore, we presented a computational method for quantifying retinal vascular leakage and vessels using FFA in a preclinical angiogenesis model, the Vldlr-/- model.
Subject(s)
Fluorescein Angiography , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/pathology , Retinal Vessels/pathology , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Algorithms , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Fluorescein Angiography/methods , Humans , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Tomography, Optical Coherence/methodsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a major cause of vision loss in diabetics that is currently mainly treated by antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. The effect of these agents on macular perfusion (MP) is a current concern. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is an imaging modality that allows noninvasive high-resolution retinal microvasculature imaging. Several recent studies evaluated the effect of anti-VEGF agents on the MP of DME patients using OCTA. Our aim is to provide a systematic review of these studies. METHODS: Multiple databases were searched including PubMed, Ovid Medline, EMBASE, and Google Scholar for relevant studies published between January 2016 and November 2020 which were included in this review. Studies were compared regarding their design, the number of included patients, the machine and scanning protocol used, the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the number of injections given, the type of anti-VEGF agent used, the outcome measures assessed, and the effect of injections on different MP parameters. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies were included. The studies assessed various OCTA parameters that define MP including the foveal avascular zone area and superficial and deep vascular density and yielded conflicting results. Seven studies showed stable or improved MP following treatment, while 7 studies showed worsening MP following treatment, and 2 studies showed inconclusive results. This could have been due to differences in study design, inclusion criteria, type of anti-VEGF agents used, treatment duration, and methods of image analysis and vascular density quantification. All identified studies were noncomparative case series, and 14 of them (87.5%) used the RTVue XR Avanti OCTA machine. Only one study compared OCTA to fluorescein angiography findings. CONCLUSION: Analysis of MP changes following VEGF inhibition for DME could benefit from a unified scanning protocol and analysis approach that uses similar study designs to eliminate potential sources of bias. This may provide more definitive conclusions regarding the effect of treatment on MP.
Subject(s)
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Diabetic Retinopathy/drug therapy , Macular Edema/drug therapy , Retinal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors , Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnostic imaging , Diabetic Retinopathy/pathology , Humans , Macular Edema/diagnostic imaging , Macular Edema/pathology , Predictive Value of Tests , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/pathology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We conducted retinal neovascularization under subfoveal fibrotic nodule for Coats disease by using optic coherence tomography-angiography before and after ranibizumab treatment. Our patient was an 8-year-old boy who was referred with suspicious left retinal mass. His visual acuity was 20/400 in the left eye and 20/20 in the right eye at the time of admission. Posterior segment evaluation of the left eye revealed telengiectatic vessels at the inferotemporal region of the peripheral retina with hard exudates around the optic disc and macula typical for Coats disease. His optic coherence tomography revealed a subfoveal fibrotic nodule after ranibizumab injections and laser photocoagulation treatment. The optic coherence tomography-angiography results revealed neovascularization under the subfoveal nodule at the superficial vascular complex layer. After 3 intravitreal ranibizumab injections, his neovascularization regressed on optic coherence tomography-angiography and his visual acuity improved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating neovascularization under the subfoveal fibrotic nodule in Coats disease on the basis of comparative with the help of optic coherence tomography-angiography before and after the treatment.
Subject(s)
Choroidal Neovascularization , Retinal Neovascularization , Retinal Telangiectasis , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Child , Choroidal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Fluorescein Angiography , Humans , Intravitreal Injections , Male , Ranibizumab/therapeutic use , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Retinal Telangiectasis/complications , Retinal Telangiectasis/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Telangiectasis/drug therapy , Tomography, Optical CoherenceABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe the clinical and multimodal imaging features of bacillary layer detachment (BD), and its response to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, in eyes with macular neovascularization. METHODS: Retrospective, observational case series of 14 eyes (14 patients, 7 men) imaged with eyes (14 patients, 7 men) were imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and either fluorescein angiography or optical coherence tomography angiography. Therapeutic response was monitored with serial imaging and best-corrected visual acuity assessments. RESULTS: The mean age was 75 ± 13 (range: 45-96) years, with mean follow-up duration of 27 ± 21 (range: 1-56) months. Neovascular age-related macular degeneration was found in 71% (10/14) eyes. Type 2 macular neovascularization lesions were associated with BD in all 14 eyes. Subretinal hemorrhage was noted in 79% (11/14) eyes. BD promptly resolved after intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy in all eyes. The baseline best-corrected visual acuity improved from logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 0.84 ± 0.32 (Snellen equivalent 20/138) to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 0.48 ± 0.31 (Snellen equivalent 20/60) at the last follow-up, with treatment of the macular neovascularization. CONCLUSION: Type 2 macular neovascularization and subretinal hemorrhage are associated with BDs, which may be due to a rapid influx of exudative fluid into the potential space between the external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone. Intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy results in rapid resolution of BDs and visual improvement in most eyes.
Subject(s)
Retinal Detachment/etiology , Retinal Neovascularization/complications , Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Inner Segment/pathology , Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment/pathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Female , Fluorescein Angiography , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Intravitreal Injections , Male , Middle Aged , Multimodal Imaging , Retinal Detachment/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Retinal Hemorrhage/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Hemorrhage/drug therapy , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Retrospective Studies , Subretinal Fluid , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Quantification of neovascularization changes in terms of neovascular complex (NVC) acquired from the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) imaging is extremely important for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). However, only few vessel extraction methods have so far been reported to quantify neovascular changes in NVC with proliferative diabetic retinopathy PDR based on OCTA images. METHODS: Here we propose an optimized approach to segment blood vessels, which is based on an improved vascular connectivity analysis (VCA) algorithm and combined with morphological characterization and elimination of noise and artifacts. The length and width of vessels are obtained in the quantitative assessment of microvascular network. The feasibility of the proposed method is further studied by a treatment monitoring and statistical analysis process, as we have monitored and statistically analyzed the changes of NVC based on sampled OCTA images of PDR patients (N = 14) after treatment by intravitreal injection of conbercept. RESULTS: The proposed method has demonstrated better performance in accuracy compared with existing algorithms and can thus be used for PRD treatment monitoring. Following the PDR treatment monitoring study, our data has shown that from the 1st day to 7th day of treatment, the averaged (arithmetic mean) length of NVC has been substantially shortened by 36.8% (P < 0.01), indicating significant effects of treatment. Meanwhile, the averaged (arithmetic mean) width of NVC from the 1st day to 7th day of treatment has been increased by 10.2% (P < 0.05), indicating that most of the narrow neovascularization has been reduced. CONCLUSION: The results and analysis have confirmed that the proposed optimization process by the improved VCA method is both effective and feasible to segment and quantify the NVC with lower noise and fewer artifacts. Thus, it can be potentially applied to monitor the fibrovascular regression during the treatment period. Clinical Trial Registration This trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registered 27 December 2017, http://www.chictr.org.cn , registration number ChiCTR-IPR-17014160).
Subject(s)
Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnostic imaging , Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods , Microcirculation , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods , Adult , Aged , Algorithms , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Monitoring, Physiologic , Prospective Studies , Software DesignABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate, using multimodal imaging, the anatomy of neovascularization in eyes with enhanced S-cone syndrome. METHODS: Three eyes with neovascularization, from two patients with enhanced S-cone syndrome, were analyzed using fluorescein angiography, indocyanine-green and optical coherence tomography angiography imaging. RESULTS: The eyes reported had a demonstrable Type 3 neovascularization with evidence of retinal-retinal anastomoses on fluorescein angiography, indocyanine-green and optical coherence tomography angiography imaging. One eye that was initially without neovascularization, but with chronic macular edema developed a macular hemorrhage. This eye was treated with 8 injections of intravitreal bevacizumab over 29-months resulting in a final fibrovascular lesion. The characteristics of this final lesion share similarities to the two other eyes described. In all eyes and all exams, retinal vessels are observed to communicate with the subretinal fibrovascular lesion. CONCLUSION: We provide evidence of retinal arteriovenous anastomosis of the superficial retinal plexus to a subretinal neovascular complex in patients with enhanced S-cone syndrome and point to similarities with Type 3 neovascularization in macular telengiectasia Type 2 (MacTel2) and age-related macular degeneration. These findings provide insights into the anatomy of neovascularization in these pathologies and may lead to hypotheses of their etiologies.
Subject(s)
Eye Diseases, Hereditary , Retinal Degeneration , Retinal Neovascularization , Vision Disorders , Eye Diseases, Hereditary/diagnostic imaging , Fluorescein Angiography , Humans , Multimodal Imaging , Retinal Degeneration/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Vision Disorders/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) findings in recurrent type 3 macular neovascularisation (MNV). METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, consecutive patients with type 3 MNV secondary to age-related macular degeneration underwent OCT-A at three different time points: baseline, after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment with complete resolution of the exudative signs (ie, non-exudative stage) and at the recurrence of exudation (ie, recurrence stage). Demographics and clinical findings were analysed, including OCT-A features of type 3 MNV recurrence. RESULTS: Twelve eyes (12 patients, mean age 78±7 years) were included. Using OCT-A, at baseline all type 3 MNVs showed the presence of detectable flow downgrowing from the deep vascular complex (DVC) to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/sub-RPE space. 6/12 eyes (50%) showed anomalous flow under the RPE, while the other 6 eyes showed flow reaching the RPE without anomalous flow in the sub-RPE space. At the non-exudative stage (after treatment), BCVA and CMT significantly improved (p=0.004 and p=0.036), and flow inside the retinal lesions reduced; interestingly the connection to the RPE/sub-RPE space regressed. At the time of recurrence, all type 3 MNVs showed the presence of intra/sub-retinal exudation with restoration of the flow deepening from the DVC to the RPE/sub-RPE space. CONCLUSIONS: Detectable flow deepening from the DVC to the RPE/sub-RPE space using OCT-A is mandatory to have a new exudation secondary to recurrent type 3 MNV. Early detection of type 3 MNV recurrence by OCT-A characterisation may prompt retreatment and potentially prevent progression to late stages of the disease.
Subject(s)
Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Wet Macular Degeneration/diagnostic imaging , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Coloring Agents/administration & dosage , Female , Fluorescein Angiography , Humans , Indocyanine Green/administration & dosage , Intravitreal Injections , Male , Middle Aged , Multimodal Imaging , Recurrence , Retinal Neovascularization/classification , Retinal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Retinal Neovascularization/physiopathology , Retrospective Studies , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors , Visual Acuity/physiology , Wet Macular Degeneration/classification , Wet Macular Degeneration/drug therapy , Wet Macular Degeneration/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Importance: Adherence to screening for vision-threatening proliferative sickle cell retinopathy is limited among patients with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy despite guidelines recommending dilated fundus examinations beginning in childhood. An automated algorithm for detecting sea fan neovascularization from ultra-widefield color fundus photographs could expand access to rapid retinal evaluations to identify patients at risk of vision loss from proliferative sickle cell retinopathy. Objective: To develop a deep learning system for detecting sea fan neovascularization from ultra-widefield color fundus photographs from patients with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy. Design, Setting, and Participants: In a cross-sectional study conducted at a single-institution, tertiary academic referral center, deidentified, retrospectively collected, ultra-widefield color fundus photographs from 190 adults with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy were independently graded by 2 masked retinal specialists for presence or absence of sea fan neovascularization. A third masked retinal specialist regraded images with discordant or indeterminate grades. Consensus retinal specialist reference standard grades were used to train a convolutional neural network to classify images for presence or absence of sea fan neovascularization. Participants included nondiabetic adults with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy receiving care from a Wilmer Eye Institute retinal specialist; the patients had received no previous laser or surgical treatment for sickle cell retinopathy and underwent imaging with ultra-widefield color fundus photographs between January 1, 2012, and January 30, 2019. Interventions: Deidentified ultra-widefield color fundus photographs were retrospectively collected. Main Outcomes and Measures: Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the convolutional neural network for sea fan detection. Results: A total of 1182 images from 190 patients were included. Of the 190 patients, 101 were women (53.2%), and the mean (SD) age at baseline was 36.2 (12.3) years; 119 patients (62.6%) had hemoglobin SS disease and 46 (24.2%) had hemoglobin SC disease. One hundred seventy-nine patients (94.2%) were of Black or African descent. Images with sea fan neovascularization were obtained in 57 patients (30.0%). The convolutional neural network had an area under the curve of 0.988 (95% CI, 0.969-0.999), with sensitivity of 97.4% (95% CI, 86.5%-99.9%) and specificity of 97.0% (95% CI, 93.5%-98.9%) for detecting sea fan neovascularization from ultra-widefield color fundus photographs. Conclusions and Relevance: This study reports an automated system with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting sea fan neovascularization from ultra-widefield color fundus photographs from patients with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy, with potential applications for improving screening for vision-threatening proliferative sickle cell retinopathy.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/complications , Deep Learning , Fluorescein Angiography , Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted , Photography , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Vessels/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Anemia, Sickle Cell/diagnosis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Observer Variation , Pattern Recognition, Automated , Predictive Value of Tests , Reproducibility of Results , Retinal Neovascularization/etiology , Retrospective Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Abnormal retinal neovascularization caused by ischemic retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a frequent cause of visually significant vitreous hemorrhage. The early detection of new vessels may be challenging and often requires the use of invasive tests such as fundus fluorescein angiography (FA). We demonstrate the use of wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography (WF-OCTA) in the detection and characterization of neovascularization secondary to ischemic RVO. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational case series of patients diagnosed with ischemic RVO between August 2018 and March 2019, who underwent WF-SS-OCTA imaging (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec). We performed real-life montage imaging, covering the involved area and compared the findings of WF-SS-OCTA to standard clinical examination and when available, ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography (UWF-FA, Optos 200TX). RESULTS: In the included 39 eyes with ischemic RVO, neovascularization elsewhere (NVE) was encountered in 16 of 39 eyes (41%) on WF-OCTA and were characterized as sea-fan type vessels and nodular type vessels, based on their appearance and localization. NVE was identified in 4/39 eyes on standard clinical examination, equating to a detection rate of 10.3%. All were of a sea-fan morphology. In one case, NVE found on WF-OCTA was not observed on UWF-FA, which was a nodular type. Neovascularization of the disc (NVD) was detected in one eye. CONCLUSIONS: WF-OCTA may become a useful noninvasive tool in the detection of neovascularization in patients with ischemic RVO. Furthermore, the characterization of different morphologies of neovascularization detected by WF-OCTA could be of clinical relevance.
Subject(s)
Diabetic Retinopathy , Retinal Neovascularization , Retinal Vein Occlusion , Fluorescein Angiography , Fundus Oculi , Humans , Retinal Neovascularization/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Vein Occlusion/complications , Retinal Vessels/diagnostic imaging , Retrospective Studies , Tomography, Optical CoherenceABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To estimate the impact of delayed care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the outcomes of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Consecutive patients with diagnosis of neovascular AMD were consecutively enrolled between March 9, 2020, and June 12, 2020, (during and immediately after the Italian COVID-19 quarantine). During the inclusion (or pandemic) visit (V0), patients received a complete ophthalmologic evaluation, including optical coherence tomography (OCT). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT findings from the two preceding visits (V-1 and V-2) were compared with data at V0. RESULTS: One-hundred patients (112 eyes) were enrolled in this study. The time interval between following visits was 110.7 ± 37.5 days within V0 and V-1 and 80.8 ± 39.7 days within V-1 and V-2, respectively (P < 0.0001). BCVA was statistically worse at the V0 visit as compared with the immediately preceding (V-1) visit (0.50 ± 0.43 LogMAR and 0.45 ± 0.38 LogMAR at the V0 and V-1 visits, respectively; P = 0.046). On structural OCT, 91 out of 112 (81.2%) neovascular AMD eyes displayed the evidence of exudative disease activity at the V0 visit, while 77 (68.7%) eyes exhibited signs of exudation at the V-1 visit (P = 0.022). No differences in terms of BCVA and OCT findings were detected between the V-1 and V-2 visits. In multiple regression analysis, the difference in BCVA between V0 and V-1 visits was significantly associated with the interval time within these two visits (P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic-related postponement in patient care proved to be significantly associated with worse short-term outcomes in these patients.