scholarly journals Integrated Imaging of Avascular Serous Pigment Epithelium Detachment in Age-related Macular Degeneration

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. oapoc.0000009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Querques ◽  
Marco R. Pastore ◽  
Houda Khlifi ◽  
Anouk Georges ◽  
Lea Querques ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Fundus Autofluorescence ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Reticular Pattern ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Ir Reflectance ◽  
Sd Oct

Introduction This study describes the imaging of avascular serous pigment epithelial detachment (PED) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods A total of 18 patients with avascular serous PED underwent assessment of best-corrected visual acuity, infrared (IR) reflectance, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and SD-OCT evaluation at baseline and at last follow-up visit. The imaging of avascular PED was compared with vascularized PED. Results A total of 23 eyes with 15.5 ± 6.4 months’ follow-up were included. Imaging revealed 3 features associated with avascular serous PED. A reticular pattern, highly reflective (IR), and hyperautofluorescent matching with a reticular area of decreased fluorescence (FA and ICGA) was constantly observed (23/23 eyes). This reticular pattern correlated on SD-OCT with dense hypereflective deposits beneath and within the sensory retina. This reticular pattern was observed in only 2/19 eyes with vascular serous PED (p<0.05). A sharp border of increased IR reflectance, matching with a halo of reduced fluorescence on both FAF and late FA frames, was observed in 23/23 eyes. This sharp border appeared as a sharp hypofluorescent border on late ICGA frames, and as an abrupt elevation of the retinal pigment epithelium on SD-OCT. Hyporeflective fluid beneath the foveal depression was observed in 17/23 (74%) eyes. Only 1/23 eyes developed choroidal neovascularization during the follow-up. Conclusions Integrated imaging shows peculiar features of avascular PED and possibly contributes to distinguishing this clinical identity from neovascular AMD.

scholarly journals Recent advances in the management of dry age-related macular degeneration: A review

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Bandello ◽  
Riccardo Sacconi ◽  
Lea Querques ◽  
Eleonora Corbelli ◽  
Maria Vittoria Cicinelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Fundus Autofluorescence ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Choroidal Blood Flow ◽  
Age Related

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most important cause of vision loss in elderly people, is a degenerative disorder of the central retina with a multifactorial etiopathology. AMD is classified in dry AMD (d-AMD) or neovascular AMD depending on the presence of choroidal neovascularization. Currently, no therapy is approved for geographic atrophy, the late form of d-AMD, because no treatment can restore the damage of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) or photoreceptors. For this reason, all treatment approaches in d-AMD are only likely to prevent and slow down the progression of existing atrophy. This review focuses on the management of d-AMD and especially on current data about potential targets for therapies evaluated in clinical trials. Numerous examinations are available in clinics to monitor morphological changes in the retina, RPE and choroid of d-AMD patients. Fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are considered the most useful tools in the diagnosis and follow-up of d-AMD alterations, including the monitoring of atrophy area progression. Instead, OCT-angiography is a novel imaging tool that may add further information in patients affected by d-AMD. Several pathways, including oxidative stress, deposits of lipofuscin, chronic inflammation and choroidal blood flow insufficiency, seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of d-AMD and represent possible targets for new therapies. A great number of treatments for d-AMD are under investigation with promising results in preliminary studies. However, only few of these drugs will enter the market, offering a therapeutic chance to patients affected by the dry form of AMD and help them to preserve a good visual acuity. Further studies with a long-term follow-up would be important to test the real safety and efficacy of drugs under investigation.

Origins of Ghost Drusen: A follow-up Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. oapoc.0000011
Author(s):  
Caroline Bottin ◽  
Olivia Zambrowski ◽  
Giuseppe Querques ◽  
Salomon Yves Cohen ◽  
Mayer Srour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Geographic Atrophy ◽  
Primary Lesion ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Soft Drusen ◽  
Initial Lesions ◽  
Sd Oct

Purpose Ghost drusen (GD) are pyramidal or dome-shaped retinal pigment epithelium elevations observed in some geographic atrophy (GA) areas in the context of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The purpose was to investigate the first morphologic features preceding GD on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) on patients with GA associated with AMD. Methods A retrospective observational study was performed on a series of patients with GA that had at least 3 years of follow-up. Using the follow-up tool of SD-OCT, we tracked the initial lesions that could lead to GD. Results Among 442 patients with GA, 37 had well defined GD (8%). We included the 17/37 patients (31 eyes) with at least 3 years of follow-up for analysis, which led to a total of 582 counted GD. Most GD were already present at the first visit, and remained stable. However, on 13 of the 582 analyzed GD (2.2%), soft drusen were shown as the initial lesion, which progressively turned into GD. Conclusions GD were observed in less than 10% of eyes with GA. None of the ghost drusen turned into another shaped lesion, suggesting that GD is a possible final stage of evolution. In a few cases, large drusen were shown as the primary lesion that progressed into GD.

scholarly journals Low-Reflectivity Drusen With Overlying RPE Damage Revealed by Spectral-Domain OCT: Hint for the Development of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shasha Yang ◽  
Zongyin Gao ◽  
Haijiang Qiu ◽  
Chengguo Zuo ◽  
Lan Mi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Coherence Tomography ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Spectral Domain ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Sd Oct

Purpose: To observe the relationship between the characteristic changes in the drusen morphology revealed by the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Methods: A total of 380 drusen in 45 eyes in 35 patients with the intermediate drusen were longitudinally followed up every 6 months by SD-OCT for a period of 24 months. The drusen were divided into the dynamic group and stable group according to the following parameters: number, volume, concurrent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/ellipsoid zone (EZ) damage, and the development of advanced AMD. The morphological characteristics of the progressive or stable drusen were further analyzed. Odds ratios (ORs) and the risk for the drusen progression were calculated.Results: The level of interobserver and intraobserver agreement for each drusen tomographic morphological parameters ranged from 82.7 to 90%. At the end of an average follow-up of 15.92 ± 6.99 months, six patients developed choroidal neovascularization and no patients developed geographic atrophy. Finally, 139 drusen changed and 241 drusen remained stable. The drusen with low reflectivity (p &lt; 0.001; OR: 5.26; 95% CI: 2.24–12.36), non-homogeneity without a core (p &lt; 0.001; OR: 4.31; 95% CI: 2.08–8.92), RPE damage (p &lt; 0.001; OR: 28.12; 95% CI: 9.43–83.85), and the EZ damage (p &lt; 0.001; OR: 14.01; 95% CI: 5.28–37.18) were significantly associated with active change; the drusen with low reflectivity (p = 0.01; OR: 2.95; 95% CI: 1.29–6.75) and decreased overlying RPE reflectivity (p &lt; 0.001; OR: 21.67; 95% CI: 9.20–51.02) were the independent predictors for progression. The drusen with high reflectivity were significantly associated with stabilization (p = 0.03; OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.04–0.84).Conclusion: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography is an optimized, accurate, and efficient method to follow-up the drusen. The intermediate non-exudative AMD prognosis of the patient was most strongly correlated with the drusen reflectivity and disruption of the overlying RPE layer. The drusen with low reflectivity and overlying RPE damage were more likely to progress and required frequent follow-up.

scholarly journals Comparative Safety of Bevacizumab, Ranibizumab, and Aflibercept for Treatment of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Direct Comparative Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna A. Plyukhova ◽  
Maria V. Budzinskaya ◽  
Kirill M. Starostin ◽  
Robert Rejdak ◽  
Claudio Bucolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Macular Atrophy ◽  
Age Related

Background: Since the efficacy of ranibizumab (RBZ), bevacizumab (BVZ) and aflibercept (AFB) is comparable in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the long-term safety profiles of these agents, including ocular safety. Methods: Systematic review identifying randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing RBZ, BVZ and AFB directly published before March 2019. Serious ocular adverse events (SOAE) of special interest were endophthalmitis, pseudo-endophthalmitis, retinal pigment epithelium tear and newly identified macular atrophy. Results: Thirteen RCTs selected for meta-analysis (4952 patients, 8723 people-years follow-up): 10 compared RBZ vs. BVZ and three RBZ vs. AFB. There were no significant differences in almost all adverse events (systemic and ocular) between BVZ, RBZ and AFB in up to two years’ follow-up. Macular atrophy was reported heterogeneously and not reported as SOAE in most trials. Conclusions: Direct comparison of RBZ, BVZ and AFB safety profiles in the RCT network meta-analytical setting have not revealed a consistent benefit of these three commonly used anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents in AMD. Network model ranking highlighted potential benefits of RBZ in terms of a systemic safety profile; however, this appears a hypothesis rather than a conclusion. Newly identified macular atrophy is underestimated in RCTs—future real-world data should be focused on SOAE.

scholarly journals OCT Biomarkers in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Narrative Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Cristian Metrangolo ◽  
Simone Donati ◽  
Marco Mazzola ◽  
Liviana Fontanel ◽  
Walter Messina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Treatment Response ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Subretinal Fluid ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Age Related

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness in elderly people. Neovascular AMD (nAMD) is responsible for the majority of cases of severe visual loss in eyes with AMD. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is the most widely used technology for the diagnosis and follow-up of nAMD patients, which is widely used to study and guide the clinical approach, as well as to predict and evaluate treatment response. The aim of this review is to describe and analyze various structural OCT-based biomarkers, which have practical value during both initial assessment and treatment follow-up of nAMD patients. While central retinal thickness has been the most common and one of the first OCT identified biomarkers, today, other qualitative and quantitative biomarkers provide novel insight into disease activity and offer superior prognostic value and better guidance for tailored therapeutic management. The key importance of retinal fluid compartmentalization (intraretinal fluid, subretinal fluid, and subretinal pigment epithelium (RPE) fluid) will be discussed firstly. In the second part, the structural alterations of different retinal layers in various stages of the disease (photoreceptors layer integrity, hyperreflective dots, outer retinal tubulations, subretinal hyperreflective material, and retinal pigment epithelial tears) will be analyzed in detail. The last part of the review will focus on how alterations of the vitreoretinal interface (vitreomacular adhesion and traction) and of the choroid (sub-RPE hyperreflective columns, prechoroidal clefts, choroidal caverns, choroidal thickness and choroidal volume, and choroidal vascular index) interact with nAMD progression. OCT technology is evolving very quickly, and new retinal biomarkers are continuously described. This up-to-date review article provides a comprehensive description on how structural OCT-based biomarkers provide a valuable tool to monitor the progression of the disease and the treatment response in nAMD patients. Thus, in this perspective, clinicians will be able to allocate hospital resources in the best possible way and tailor treatment to the individual patient’s needs.

scholarly journals Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration – A New Approach In Optical Coherence Tomography Monitoring And Quantitative Assessment

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-154
Author(s):  
Elitsa G. Hristova ◽  
Zornitsa I. Zlatarova
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Dry Amd ◽  
Area And Volume

Summary The purpose of the study was to present the ability of Drusen analysis software tool to measure drusen area and volume in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Eleven patients with confirmed dry AMD aged 59-74 years were scanned with 3D OCT-2000 Topcon 3D Macula scanning protocol by a single operator. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination including best corrected visual acuity, indirect biomicroscopy, tonometry, fluorescein angiography and OCT. Drusen analysis was performed on the macula with 6.0 × 6.0 mm volume cube scans and 512×128 pixels scan resolution. The results were presented along with calculated values in two clearly arranged reports. Mean follow-up period was 19 months (6-40). Count, area occupation, volume of the drusen and 3D retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) elevation map were presented in a Macula drusen analysis report. Drusen count and volume in 6 patients were increased at the end of follow-up period. There were 5 patients with regression in drusen count and area and volume of the drusen in 3 of them were higher than on previous examination. Another 2 were with regression not only in drusen count but also in their area and volume. With this software tool the status of RPE can be objectively and automatically examined in detail and can be followed up over time. OCT allows for precise quantitative evaluation and study of microstructural changes in patients with dry AMD and provides three-dimensional information of macular pathology in situ and in real time. This could be useful for determining stages and monitoring the progression of AMD.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document