scholarly journals Retinal Sensitivity Loss Correlates with Deep Capillary Plexus Impairment in Diabetic Macular Ischemia

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Scarinci ◽  
Monica Varano ◽  
Mariacristina Parravano

Purpose. To assess retinal sensitivity and retinal morphologic changes of capillary nonperfused areas in diabetic macular ischemia. Methods. Observational cross-sectional study. Patients were examined at IRCCS—Bietti Foundation, Rome, Italy. Fourteen consecutive diabetic eyes showing outer retinal changes on spectral domain optical coherence tomography B-scan were included. Ten eyes of ten diabetic patients with normal outer retinal structure on SD-OCT were included as controls. All eyes underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and MP1 microperimetry. To explore the outer retina findings and localized areas of capillary nonperfusion at the superficial and deep capillary plexus, we used the Spectralis HRA + OCTA (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). The B-scans as either normal or having outer retinal disruption and the enface images at the level of the superficial and/or deep capillary plexus were evaluated to identify areas of capillary nonperfusion. Results. Fourteen eyes of 12 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients with outer retinal disruption on SD-OCT showed that areas of capillary nonperfusion of the deep capillary plexus were colocalized to areas of reduced retinal sensitivity. Conclusions. On optical coherence tomography angiography, areas of capillary nonperfusion of deep capillary plexus due to macular ischemia are associated with photoreceptor structural abnormalities and retinal sensitivity loss on microperimetry. This highlights that the health status of deep capillary plexus and not only the choroid is important to the oxygen requirements of the photoreceptors in patients with diabetic macular ischemia. Also, the anatomical and functional consequences of these findings might help to explore the efficacy of new therapy into the macular area in clinical practice.

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1418-1423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Furino ◽  
Grazia Montrone ◽  
Maria Vittoria Cicinelli ◽  
Stefania Balestra ◽  
Maria Oliva Grassi ◽  
...  

Purpose: To investigate a subset of diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy with optical coherence tomography angiography, assessing the differences in macular perfusion between diseased eyes and healthy controls. Methods: Monocentric cross-sectional study, including 86 eyes from 43 diabetic patients with no clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy and 78 eyes from 39 controls. Patients underwent 3.0 × 3.0 mm and 4.5 × 4.5 mm swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography. Vessel density (%), foveal avascular zone area (mm2), and avascular density (%) were provided for the superficial capillary plexus and the deep capillary plexus. Results: The foveal avascular zone area at the superficial capillary plexus was larger in the study group compared to controls, irrespective of the area of the slab considered. A meaningful difference was found in the vessel density at the deep capillary plexus of the 3.0 × 3.0 mm slab (p = 0.03). Almost all the variables considered in the study showed a significant within-subject effect. Age significantly correlated with vessel density of superficial capillary plexus on 4.5 × 4.5 mm in both control and diabetic eyes. Conclusion: Diabetic patients with subclinical diabetic retinopathy feature a larger foveal avascular zone at the superficial capillary plexus compared with controls, as well as relative reduction of the vessel density at the deep capillary plexus. These findings might serve as the basis for screening between normal and diabetic subjects.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fariba Ghassemi ◽  
Kaveh Fadakar ◽  
Sahar Berijani ◽  
Ameneh Babeli ◽  
Alireza Gholizadeh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: To determine the discrepancy between quantitative measurement of retinal and choriocapillaris (CC) vascular density (VD) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) stages using spectral domain optical coherence tomography angiography (SD OCTA) and compare it with normal subjects.Methods: 188 eyes of 97 participants were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Macular OCTA (3x3mm) scan was performed and VD at the level of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and CC were measured with the device software.Results: In normal subjects, VD in SCP, DCP, and CC were higher in all subsegments. In retinal VD, all calculated parameters were reduced in the more extreme stages of DR, except for foveal VD of SCP. There was a constant pattern of decrease in VD of CC from normal cases to cases of NDR and NPDR and then a slight increase happened in the PDR stage but never touching the normal quantities. Age, fasting blood sugar, and years of diabetes mellitus were correlated with reduced VD in different segments. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was positively correlated with parafoveal VD at SCP and VD of foveal area at CC. VD of all subfields of macular area except foveal DCP VD showed reduced levels in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients compared to those without DME.Conclusions: The findings of the study endorse retina VD changes as a potential biomarker for DR development before retinopathy becomes clinically evident. It seems that parafoveal VD of SCP and foveal VD of CC are good biomarkers to predict VA in the diabetic patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Serra ◽  
Alexandre Sellam ◽  
Florence Coscas ◽  
Elsa Bruyère ◽  
André Sieiro ◽  
...  

Purpose: To compare the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) findings of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) in eyes with pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME) with those of fluorescein angiography (FA) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to compare PCME vascular density values of the SCP and DCP with those of healthy eyes. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 13 eyes (12 patients) with PCME underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations including visual acuity, FA, SD-OCT, and OCT-A. The vascular density of the SCP and DCP were measured using AngioAnalytics software in all PCME eyes and compared with 46 healthy eyes of 25 subjects. Results: In patients with PCME, at the level of SCP, the mean vascular density in the whole en face image was 44.48 ± 3.61% while it was 50.27 ± 5.30% at the level of the DCP. In contrast, the vascular density in the whole en face image was 50.35 ± 3.22 at the level of SCP while it was 56.15 ± 3.28 at the level of DCP in 46 healthy eyes of 25 subjects. The vascular density of patients with PCME was significantly lower than in healthy subjects at the SCP (p<0.0001) and at the DCP (p<0.0001). Conclusion: We report the OCT-A appearance of PCME and vascular density map with values that can be easily interpreted for quantitative evaluation of retina perfusion status using OCT-A. This approach might be the first step in helping us fully understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying PCME.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilda Cennamo ◽  
Daniela Montorio ◽  
Chiara Comune ◽  
Maria Paola Laezza ◽  
Matteo Fallico ◽  
...  

The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the vascular features in eyes with Coats disease, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), at baseline and after 3 monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab. Fifteen eyes of 15 consecutive patients affected by Coats' disease were recruited in this study. All patients underwent the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) evaluation, fundus examination, fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), multicolor imaging, structural Spectral Domain (SD)-OCT and OCTA at baseline and 1 month after the third monthly ranibizumab injection (loading phase). Fifteen patients completed the study, of whom nine were males and six females. Mean age was 20.4 ± 2 years. BCVA was 0.46 ± 0.11 logMar and 0.47 ± 0.12 logMar at baseline and after treatment, respectively (p = 0.164). SD-OCT revealed no significant decrease in central macular thickness (486.33 μm ± 93.37 at baseline vs. 483.4 μm ± 80.97 after treatment; p = 0.915). The subretinal exudates persisted in macular region after intravitreal injections. OCTA showed a general vascular rarefaction in superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and choriocapillary (CC) that did not change after loading phase. This study showed no functional and vascular improvement following 3 monthly ranibizumab injections. OCTA, non-invasive technique, could be useful during follow up of these patients and provide a better understand of pathogenesis of this disorder.


2017 ◽  
Vol 102 (8) ◽  
pp. 1086-1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoon Jeon Kim ◽  
Seungmo Kim ◽  
Joo Yong Lee ◽  
June-Gone Kim ◽  
Young Hee Yoon

AimsTo investigate macular vascular integrity using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients undergoing vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal and to determine its association with structural and visual outcomes.MethodsForty-three patients with unilateral ERM who were followed for ≥6 months after surgery were included. Ophthalmological evaluations included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) before surgery and 6 months after surgery. We obtained en face OCTA images of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) for both eyes 6 months after ERM removal. We compared eyes with ERM to unaffected fellow eyes as controls and used interocular differences in the analyses.ResultsCompared with the fellow eyes, eyes with ERM after surgery had a lower parafoveal vascular density (VD) and a smaller foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in both SCP and DCP (all p<0.001). Interocular differences in the FAZ area and parafoveal VD were correlated with preoperative and postoperative central foveal thicknesses (all p<0.05). In addition, interocular differences in macular vascular integrity had a tendency to be correlated with SD-OCT parameters of the inner retinal layers. Finally, greater interocular differences in the FAZ area and parafoveal VD of both plexuses were significantly associated with worse postoperative BCVAs (all p<0.05).ConclusionsAssessing macular capillary plexuses via OCTA may be useful to quantify structural changes of the inner retinal layer and predict visual function in patients undergoing ERM removal surgery.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212199056
Author(s):  
Emine Temel ◽  
Figen Batıoğlu

Purpose: To emphasize the importance of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in the diagnosis and follow-up of diabetic individuals with and without retinopathy. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study of healthy persons and diabetic individuals with and without retinopathy. Area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) (mm²), non-perfused areas in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), mean vessel density (VD) in the SCP, and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were calculated. In eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR), measurements at baseline, 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th months were evaluated. Results: This study conducted on 39 eyes of 23 patients with DR (group 1), 59 eyes of 30 diabetic individuals without DR (group 2), and 51 eyes of 27 healthy persons (group 3). When the mean area of the FAZ at baseline was compared between groups, the difference among groups 1 and 3 ( p < 0.001) and the difference among groups 2 and 3 ( p = 0.001) were statistically significant. There was no significant difference among the measurements of mean area of the FAZ, mean non-perfused area in the SCP, mean VD in SCP, and DCP at baseline, 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th months in group 1. Conclusion: OCTA is a developing technology that can detect early microvascular changes in diabetic patients.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Wen ◽  
Zijing Li ◽  
Jiaqi Liang ◽  
Jianhui Xiao ◽  
Yichi Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This study aim to evaluate neurovascular changes in both macula and optic nerve head (ONH) in early stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) using combined quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters.Methods We studied 194 right eyes from 64 type 2 diabetic patients without DR (DM), 64 diabetic patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and 64 age-matched healthy controls. OCTA parameters were analyzed using binary logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results There was significant reduction of vessel density (VD) in both macula and ONH comparing DM patients with and without NPDR to controls. The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve for NPDR versus control was 0.963 ( p <0.001), with sensitivity of 93.8% and specificity of 90.6%. The ROC curves for NPDR patients versus NoDR patients (including DM and control groups) exhibited an AUC of 0.923 ( p <0.001), with sensitivity of 90.6% and specificity of 82.8%. The thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in both macula and ONH was not significantly different among these three groups.Conclusions VD in both macula and ONH was simultaneously decreased prior to RNFL thinning in DM patients through the course proceeding from preclinical DR to NPDR. Combined analysis of macula and ONH parameters was an comprehensive and accurate OCTA metric to distinguish NPDR patients from healthy controls and DM patients without DR.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
Daniela Bacherini ◽  
Maria Cristina Savastano ◽  
Francesco Dragotto ◽  
Lucia Finocchio ◽  
Chiara Lenzetti ◽  
...  

(1) Objective: To use optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and microperimetry (MP) to evaluate the correlation between retinal structure and function in patients with idiopathic, full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs) (2) Methods: This prospective, observational study included 11 eyes of 10 patients with FTMHs evaluated before surgery using OCTA and MP. MP sensitivity maps were superimposed and registered on slabs corresponding to superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) on OCTA, and on the outer plexiform layer (OPL) and the Henle fiber layer (HFL) complex in en face OCT. On these maps, mean retinal sensitivity was calculated at 2° and 4°, all centered on the FTMH. Cystic cavity extension was assessed on the slab corresponding to the OPL + HFL complex in en face OCT and DCP in OCTA using the Image J software (Version 1.49v; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA); (3) Results: Absolute scotomas were observed corresponding to the FTMH. Additionally, rings of relative scotoma in the perilesional area were detected and correlated to the cystic spaces on en face OCT and OCTA. There was a significant correlation between reduced retinal sensitivity at 2° and 4° diameters around the FTMH and the extension of cystic areas (p < 0.01). There was a significant correlation between the extension of cystic cavities and BCVA (p < 0.01). (4) Conclusions: Morpho-functional analysis of FTMH using OCTA and MP, and the correlation between vascular abnormalities and impaired retinal sensitivity, may provide new, useful information. This integrated evaluation of FTMH may be useful to determine the function–structure correlation before and after vitreoretinal surgery, in order to gain a better understanding of the functional consequences induced by the morphological alterations, assessing outcomes in a more objective way, and potentially adding new surgical prognostic factors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fariba Ghassemi ◽  
Kaveh Fadakar ◽  
Sahar Berijani ◽  
Ameneh Babeli ◽  
Alireza Gholizadeh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Quantitative assessment of vascular density (VD) of retinal and choriocapillaris (CC) in various stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography angiography (SD OCTA). Methods 188 eyes of 97 participants were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The macular OCTA (3x3mm) scan was performed and the computer algorithm assessed VD at the level of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and CC. Results All measured parameters were decreased in retinal VD at the more extreme stages of DR, with the exception of SCP foveal VD. There was a constant pattern of decrease in VD of CC from normal cases to cases of NDR and NPDR and then a slight increase occurred in the PDR stage but never touching the normal quantities. Age, fasting blood sugar, and years of diabetes mellitus were correlated with reduced VD in different segments. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was positively correlated with parafoveal VD at SCP and VD of foveal area at CC. VD of all subfields of macular area except foveal DCP VD showed reduced levels in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients compared to those without DME. Conclusions The findings of the study endorse retina VD changes as a potential biomarker for DR development before retinopathy becomes clinically evident. It seems that parafoveal VD of SCP and foveal VD of CC are good biomarkers to predict VA in the diabetic patients.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Mauricio Botto de Barros Garcia ◽  
Talita Toledo Lima ◽  
Ricardo Noguera Louzada ◽  
Alessandra Thome Rassi ◽  
David Leonardo Cruvinel Isaac ◽  
...  

Purpose. To compare fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) with and without diabetic macular ischemia (DMI).Methods. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare area measurements andpvalues of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. FA and OCTA images were independently graded by 2 observers that reached agreement regarding quantitative DMI according established protocols. The ischemic area was divided into “large” macular ischemia (superior to 0.32 mm2) and “small” (inferior to 0.32 mm2) groups. Quantitative analyses of the FAZ were performed using custom software.Results. Thirty-four eyes from 34 diabetic patients were enrolled. Subjects with DMI presented a mean area on FA and OCTA of 0.68 ± 0.53 mm2and 0.58 ± 0.35 mm2, respectively (p=0.1374). Patients without DMI presented a mean area on FA and OCTA of 0.19 ± 0.67 mm2and 0.20 ± 0.79 mm2, respectively (p=0.9594). The ICC for the FAZ measurements between the 2 observers on FA and OCTA was 0.96 and 0.92, respectively.Conclusion. OCTA represents a novel technique for the diagnosis of DMI and it may become an alternative to FA for this purpose.


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