PurposeTo assess OCT angiography (OCTA) effectiveness at detecting choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in cases of suspected neovascular age related macular degeneration (nAMD), chronic central serous retinopathy (cCSR) and pathological myopia compared to FFA and how it compares to a multimodal approach (OCT, FFA and ICGA) for detecting the vascular network.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational cohort study of patients who had clinical and/or OCT findings suggestive of CNV, having further investigation with FFA, with or without ICG, and had same day OCTA using the Heidelberg Spectralis OCT2 beta angiography module. Multimodal imaging interpretation was compared to OCTA images. OCTA images were also analysed for inter-rater reliability (using kappa statistic). The diagnostic accuracy of OCTA was compared to FFA (using Cochran's Q, p<0.05). OCTA was also compared to a multimodal approach in defining a vascular network.ResultsOverall sensitivity of OCTA compared to FFA was 71% and specificity of 81% (p=0.108). Subgroup analysis for OCTA vs FFA for detecting classic nAMD/type II CNV sensitivity was 100% and specificity of 76% (p<0.05). OCTA vs FFA for detecting occult nAMD/type-I CNV sensitivity was 47% and specificity of 76%, (p=0.248). OCTA was better than FFA at defining a vascular network overall, when OCT was suspicious (59% vs 49%).ConclusionsOCTA was better at detecting classic nAMD/type II CNV compared to FFA and for defining a vascular network in nAMD compared to FFA and ICGA. It was able to aid in making the diagnosis in cases where evidence of CNV was uncertain following FFA/ICGA.
Endothelial insulin receptors (Insr) promote sprouting angiogenesis, although the underpinning cellular and molecular mechanisms are unknown. Comparing mice with whole body insulin receptor haploinsufficiency (Insr +/-) against littermate controls, we found impaired limb perfusion and muscle capillary density after inducing hind-limb ischemia; this was in spite of increased expression of the pro-angiogenic growth factor Vegfa. Insr +/- neonatal retinas exhibited reduced tip cell number and branching complexity during developmental angiogenesis, which was also found in separate studies of mice with endothelium-restricted Insr haploinsufficiency. Functional responses to VEGF-A, including in vitro angiogenesis, were also impaired in aortic rings and pulmonary endothelial cells from Insr +/- mice. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with shRNA-mediated knockdown of Insr also demonstrated impaired functional angiogenic responses to VEGF-A. VEGF-A signaling to Akt and eNOS was intact, but downstream signaling to ERK1/2 was impaired, as was VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) internalization, which is required specifically for signaling to ERK1/2. Hence, endothelial insulin receptors facilitate the functional response to VEGF-A during angiogenic sprouting and are required for appropriate signal transduction from VEGFR-2 to ERK1/2.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Retinovascular anomalies in the fellow eyes of patients with Coats’ disease have been described, but the clinical significance is unknown, as well as whether these lesions progress over time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is an international, multi center, retrospective, observational cohort study of fellow-eye abnormalities on widefield fluorescein angiography in patients with Coats’ disease. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty eyes of 175 patients with Coats’ disease were analyzed. A total of 33 patients (18.8%) demonstrated abnormal fellow-eye findings: 14 (42.4%) telangiectasias, 18 (54.5%) aneurysms, six (18.2%) segmental non-perfusion, six (18.2%) leakage, and two (6.0%) vascular tortuosity. All eyes were asymptomatic, and none of the lesions progressed over time. There was no association between fellow-eye findings with severity of Coats’ disease (P = .16), patient age (P = .16), or presence of systemic vascular disease (P = .16). CONCLUSIONS: The vascular abnormalities in fellow eyes of patients with Coats’ disease did not progress over time. Observation is a reasonable initial management strategy.
Purpose: To describe real world data in patients affected by myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and to compare our results with previous studies and clinical trials. Methods: This retrospective monocentric cohort study analyzed 96 eyes of 96 myopic-CNV patients treated with an anti-VEGF pro-re-nata regimen over a 3-year-long follow up period. Aflibercept and Ranibizumab were considered as first-line agents whereas Bevacizumab was reserved on a compassionate basis in patients outside the criteria for treatment. All patients underwent a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) recording at each follow up visit. Results: Our data showed that all three molecules produced significant improvements in BCVA at year 1, with no significant differences between the three drugs. Moreover, during the second year of treatment, Ranibizumab and Bevacizumab showed a significant improvement in the visual function. However, at year 3 of treatment, the data available indicated the BCVA improvement was not significant with Ranibizumab and Bevacizumab. In addition, no significant difference in the average number of injections between the three groups was detected over the follow up period. No serious adverse events were recorded, but five minor adverse events documented. Conclusion: Our study correlates with previous studies showing significant BCVA gains with the use of these molecules. Similarly, all three molecules seem to provide a similar duration of effects as previous studies have shown, with a low ocular adverse event rate.
The use of imaging for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) depends on how it benefits clinical management and on reimbursement. The latter should relate to the former. This review assesses how different forms of AMD can be imaged and what information this provides. For nonneovascular AMD high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT), autofluorescence, and near infrared imaging can identify the type of drusen, such as reticular pseudodrusen, which influences prognosis, and the amount of atrophy, for which phase 3 trials are underway. Clarifying the correct diagnosis for late-onset Stargardt and macular telangiectasia, if treatment becomes available, will be especially important. Choroidal thickness can be measured and changes with anti‒vascular endothelial growth factor treatment, but how this influences management is less clear. The finding of a thick choroid may alter the diagnosis to pachychoroid neovasculopathy, which may have a different treatment response. Peripheral retinal changes are commonly found on ultrawide-field imaging but their importance is not yet determined. The mainstay of imaging is OCT, which can detect neovascular AMD by detecting thickening and be used for follow-up, as the presence or absence of thickening is the main determinant of treatment. Higher resolution systems and now OCT angiography are able to distinguish neovascular type, especially type 2 choroidal neovascularization but also polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and retinal angiomatous proliferation. Fundus fluorescein and indocyanine green angiographies still have a role, although that partly depends on whether photodynamic therapy is being considered. Automated image analysis and machine learning will be increasingly important in supporting clinician decisions.
Introduction: Retinal imaging is a key investigation in ophthalmology. New devices continue to be created to keep up with the demand for better imaging modalities in this field. This review looks to highlight current trends and the future of retinal imaging.Areas covered: This review looks at the advances in topographical imaging, photoacoustic microscopy, optical coherence tomography and molecular imaging. There is future scoping Expert opinion: Retinal imaging continues to develop at a rapid pace to improve diagnosis and management of patients. We will see the development of big data to gain powerful insights and new technologies such as teleophthalmology mature in the future.
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