Radial Peripapillary Capillary Network in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study

Purpose: To detect the vessel density (VD) of the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) in eyes affected by pathological myopia with or without a peripapillary intrachoroidal cavitation (PICC) and in eyes with PICC complicated by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: We prospectively enrolled highly myopic patients from January 2016 to December 2019 at the Eye Clinic of the University of Naples “Federico II.” We divided included patients into three groups: group 1 including patients with PICC complicated by CNV; group 2 including patients with PICC without complications; group 3 including patients with high myopia without PICC and CNV. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni post hoc analysis was used to evaluate differences in VD of radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) in papillary whole, peripapillary regions and its sectors among the three groups. Results: We enrolled 12 highly myopic eyes with PICC complicated by CNV, 21 highly myopic eyes with PICC without CNV and 23 highly myopic eyes without PICC. The myopic eyes with PICC revealed a statistically significant reduction in VD of the RPC comparing to the other groups ( p < 0.001), especially in eyes affected by myopic PICC complicated by CNV ( p < 0.001). These results were similar analyzing the VD in different sectors of the peripapillary region among the three groups ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: OCTA detects the changes in peripapillary vascular density of highly myopic eyes. We demonstrated that the RPC vasculature is significantly influenced by the presence of PICC, especially in myopic eyes developing a CNV.

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Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in patients undergoing transcorneal electrical stimulation for treating retinitis pigmentosa

Graefe s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology ◽

10.1007/s00417-020-04963-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Olga Zabek ◽

Hanna Camenzind Zuche ◽

Ursula Müller ◽

Hendrik P. N. Scholl ◽

Annekatrin Rickmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optical Coherence Tomography ◽

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Vascular Density ◽

Optical Coherence ◽

Transcorneal Electrical Stimulation ◽

Retinal Layers ◽

Perfusion Density

Abstract Purpose Transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) is a novel treatment approach for patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The aim of our study was to observe changes in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) that would be attributed to TES treatment. Methods A total of 73 eyes were included: 43 eyes of 22 subjects (11 ♀, 11 ♂) suffering from RP were examined at baseline (BL), after first stimulation (TS), 1 week (1W), and 6 months (6M) after treatment initiation and were compared with 30 control eyes of 15 subjects (8 ♀, 7 ♂). TES was performed simultaneously on both eyes for 30 min weekly. OCTA scans of 9 × 15 mm were recorded with a PLEX Elite 9000 swept-source OCTA device (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena). Vascular density metrics such as perfusion density (PD) and vessel density (VD) were calculated automatically for the macular area by using standardised extended early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) grids centred around the fovea. In addition, the capillary perfusion density (CPD) and the capillary flux index (CFI) of the peripapillary nerve fibre layer microvasculature in all four quadrants of an annulus centred at the optic disc were measured. All parameters were determined over all retinal layers and separately for the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). ANOVA-based linear mixed-effects models were calculated with SPSS®. Results Throughout the course of TES treatment, the macular VD and PD of all retinal layers in all subsections showed a slight decrement without reaching statistical significance, also when analysed separately in the SCP and DCP (p > 0.08). In analogy, the average CPD and CFI also presented with a slight decrement (p > 0.20). However, when compared with controls, most OCTA parameters showed a significant decrement (p < 0.05). When analysed systematically in all subsections of the extended ETDRS grid, the temporal macular subsections within the outer ring (radius 1.5–3 mm) and also of the peripheral C1, C2, and C3 rings (radius 3–7.5 mm) showed lower VD and PD values when compared with the other subsections (p < 0.05). Conclusion Vascular density metrics in the macular region and the peripapillary microvasculature appear to remain unaffected by continuous TES treatment within a period of 6 months.

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OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

Retina ◽

10.1097/iae.0000000000001904 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Maged Alnawaiseh ◽

Friederike Schubert ◽

Peter Heiduschka ◽

Nicole Eter

Keyword(s):

Optical Coherence Tomography ◽

Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography ◽

Optical Coherence

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In depth understanding of retinitis pigmentosa pathogenesis through optical coherence tomography angiography analysis: a narrative review

International Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.18240/ijo.2021.12.25 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 1979-1985

Author(s):

Bing-Wen Lu ◽

◽

Gai-Ping Wu ◽

Li-Ke Xie ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optical Coherence Tomography ◽

Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography ◽

Vascular Dysfunction ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Animal Experiments ◽

Optical Coherence ◽

Key Factors ◽

Choroidal Vasculature ◽

Retinal Disorder

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most recognized inherited retinal disorder involving progressive photoreceptors degeneration which eventually causes blindness. However, the pathogenesis of RP is still unclear, making it difficult to establish satisfying treatments. Evidence have been found to support the theory that vascular dysfunction is associated with the progression of RP. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a newly developed technology that enables visualization as well as quantitative assessment of retinal and choroidal vasculature non-invasively. Advances in OCTA have opened a window for in-depth understanding of RP pathogenesis. Here, we propose a hypothesis of RP pathogenesis based on the current OCTA findings in RP, which includes four stages and two important key factors, vascular dysfunction and microglia activation. Further, we discuss the future animal experiments needed and how advanced OCTA technology can help to further verity the hypothesis. The final goal is to explore potential treatment options with enhanced understanding of RP pathogenesis.

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