Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of transpupillary thermal therapy (TTT) for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) accompanied with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods Fifty-one eyes of 47 patients whose illness had been diagnosed as AMD by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were treated with diode 810 laser. There are 42 eyes of 39 patients had occult CNV and 9 eyes of 8 patients had classic CNV, and the average visual acuity in their fist diagnosis was 0.12. According to the focus size, the diameters of beam spot varied from 0.8, 1.2, 2.0, and 3.0 mm; and the power was 120, 160, 260 and 360mW correspondingly, with the duration of 60 seconds. The follow-up examination was performed once a month after the treatment, and repetitious treatment would be taken once to thrice if necessary. The follow-up period was 3~33 months with the mean of 10 months. Visual acuity, haemorrhage in ocular fundus, absorption of exudation, and the closure of CNV were examined in the follow-up examination. Results No immediate decrement of visual acuity or any other discomforts were found in all of the treated eyes soon after the treatment. The average visual acuity of 51 eyes was 0.16 in the last diagnosis, which remained no change in 68.62%; increased in 23.53% and decreased in 7.84% compared with that in the first diagnosis. The results of FFA and ICCG demonstrated that at the 3rd months after the treatment, the closure rate was 42.86% in occult CNV and 22.22% in classic CNV; and at the 6th month, the closure rate was 73.81% in occult CNV and 66.67% in classic CNV. The results of ophthalmoscopy showed that at the 3rd month after the treatment, partial or complete absorption of hemorrhage and/or exudates with various thickness of organized scarring tissue was found in 42 eyes with occult CNV; decrement of hemorrhage and exudates was observed in 7 out of 9 eyes with classic CNV; and new hemorrhage occurred in 1 eye. At the 6th month, in 27 eyes with occult CNV, new hemorrhage occurred in 3 including 2 eyes with occult CNV, new hemorrhage occurred in 3 including 2 eyes with faster absorption and remaining unchanged for 12 months; in 5 eyes with classic C NV, new hemorrhage occurred in 2, which was absorbed after treated again and remained stable in the 16-month followed-up. In 19 eyes with occult CNV which had been followed up for more than 6 months, hemorrhage disappeared in 5 and new hemorrhage occurred in 5. In the followed-up over 6 months, new hemorrhage occurred in 8 eyes with the recurrent rate of 15.6%. Conclusion TTT is effective for AMD with either classic or occult CNV. In the long-term followed-up, CNV recurs in 15.6% of the treated eyes which may be improved after the further treatment. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：280-284)
Objective To compare the features of OCT angiography (OCTA) between neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) patients before and after intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment. Methods A prospective cohort study. Twenty-nine patients (37 eyes) with nAMD (19 males and 10 females, aged 68.20±8.76) and 31 patients (34 eyes) with mCNV (9 males and 22 females, aged 43.10±11.80, with the mean diopter of −9.71±1.20 D) from Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University during May and December 2017 were included in this study. Ranibizumab or Conbercept (0.5 mg/0.05 ml) was intravitreally injected in all eyes. The patients were follow-up for 3−6 months. The OCTA was conducted before treatment and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3−6 months after treatment. In order to ensure that the scanning position was the same, the tracking mode was adopted for each scanning. According to the OCTA images, the lesion area, parafoveal superficial vessel density and perfusion area were measured and analyzed contrastively between nAMD and mCNV patients. Results The mean lesion area before and 1 month after treatment in nAMD patients were 0.38±1.87 mm2 and 0.06±0.12 mm2, while in mCNV patients, those were 0.26±1.06 mm2 and 0.03±0.05 mm2, respectively. There were statistically significant differences (Z=4.181, 4.475; P＜0.001) in CNV lesion area before and 1 month after treatment between nAMD and mCNV patients. Compared with those before treatment, the absolute change (Z=1.853, P=0.064) and the percentage changes (t=2.685, P=0.010) of CNV lesion area 1 month after treatment in nAMD and mCNV patients show a statistical meaning. There were significantly decreases in both parafoveal superficial vessel density (F=8.997, P=0.003) and perfusion area (F=7.887, P=0.015) 3 months after treatment in nAMD patients, while decreases in parafoveal superficial vessel density (F=11.142, P=0.004) and perfusion area (F=7.662, P=0.013) could be detected 1 day after treatment in mCNV patients, before rising 1 month after treatment. Conclusions There are significantly differences in lesion area before and after the treatment of intravitreal anti-VEGF between nAMD and mCNV patients by OCTA examination. Moreover, the changes of both parafoveal superficial vessel density and perfusion area after anti-VEGF treatment are statistically different in two groups.
Interleukin-18 is an inactive precursor which lacks a signal peptide, it has a role in regulating retinal pathological angiogenesis. It also inhibits experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) via interferon-γand thrombospondin-1. Currently little is known about its mechanisms of inhibition for CNV, may be speculated to be due to effects of anti-angiogenesis, down-regulates vascular permeability and lower vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels via directly acting on the vascular endothelial cell and epithelial cells. Exogenous administration of mature recombinant interleukin-18 has no adverse effect on retinal pigment epithelial cell viability. In addition, the anti-VEGF role of interleukin-18 is tested to be safe and effective for humans. Interleukin-18 alone or in combination with anti-VEGF shows to be a good prospect for improving the prognosis of experimental CNV. However, more large clinical studies are required to confirm the exact efficacy of interleukin-18 for CNV.
ObjectiveTo observe the imaging characteristics of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and the changes of choroidal capillary density (CCD) in the eyes of patients with high myopia choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). MethodsA case-control study. From January 2018 to October 2020, 50 cases of mCNV patients with 50 eyes (mCNV group) were included in the study. There were 18 males and 32 females; their age was 42.11±11.66 years old. Fifty eyes of 50 patients with normal fundus with matching myopia refractive power (≥6.00 D) were selected as the simple high myopia group, and 50 normal volunteers (refractive power －0.25-0.25 D) while 50 eyes were selected as the normal control group. There was no statistically significant difference in age (F=0.028) and gender composition ratio (χ2=0.136) among the three groups of patients (P＞0.05); the difference in best corrected visual acuity was statistically significant (F=14.762, P=0.004). Compared with mCNV group and pure high myopia group, the refractive index (t=－0.273) and axial length (t=0.312) of the examined eyes were not statistically significant (P＞0.05). OCTA instrument was used to measure the CCD in the macular area of the examined eye. Analysis of variance was used for comparison of measurement data among the three groups; χ2 test was used for comparison of categorical variables. The paired t test was performed to compare the CCD of the mCNV patient's eye and the contralateral eye. ResultsAmong the 50 eyes in the mCNV group, Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and mixed choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were 12 (24%, 12/50), 34 (68%, 34/50), and 4 (8%, 4/50) eyes, respectively. Corresponding to the OCTA cross-sectional image of the lesion, there was a clear “flower cluster”-like strong blood flow signal. Among them, the focal shape, the filament shape, and the group net shape were 6 (12%, 6/50), 8 (11%, 8/50), and 36 (72%, 36/50) eyes, respectively. The CCD of the eyes in the mCNV group, the pure high myopia group, and the normal control group were (57.39±3.24)%, (59.33±2.23)%, and (61.87±1.62)%, respectively. The CCD of the eyes in the mCNV group was significantly lower than that of the simple high myopia group (P=0.030) and the normal control group (P＜0.001). The CCD of the affected eye and the contralateral eye in the mCNV group were (57.39±3.24)% and (59.82±3.94)%, respectively; there was no statistically significant difference between the CCD of the affected eye and the contralateral eye (t=－0.496, P=0.100). The CCDs of eyes with Ⅰ, Ⅱ and mixed CNV were (57.38±3.31)%, (57.39±2.83)%, and (57.36±4.21)%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in CCD (F=1.476), age (F=0.274), sex ratio (χ2=0.825), and diopter (F=0.348) in different CNV types (P＞0.05). ConclusionThe mCNV is mostly type Ⅱ, and OCTA has a "bloom" appearance of abnormal reticular blood vessels; the CCD is significantly reduced, and it is bilateral.
Objective To observe the inhibitory effect of kallikrein-binding protein (KBP) on choroidal neovascularization. Methods Forty Brown Norway rats were randomly divided into the KBP groups and the control group, 20 rats in each group, the right eye as the experimental eye. The rats were photocoagulated by 532 nm laser to induce CNV model. One week after laser photocoagulation, the rats were received FFA examination. At the second day after FFA examination, the rats of KBP group were received an intravitreal injection of KBP 5 mu;l (4 mg/ml KBP). The same volume of deionized water was injected into the rats in the control group. The rats of two groups received FFA examination at one, two and three weeks after injection. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and pigment epithelium derived factor were observed using hematoxylin and eosin stain and immunohistochemistry stain. CNV leakage area and the cumulative absorbance of laser spot area were analyzed by Image-Pro plus 6.0 software. Results FFA examination showed that there were CNV and fluorescence leakage at one week after laser photocoagulation; one, two and three weeks after injection, the leakage decreased gradually in KBP group, but increased with time in control group. Compared with control group, the spot area and CNV in KBP group reduced gradually, but CNV was always there in control group. The differences of VEGF (F=1.29) and PEDF (F=6.29) expressions at one week after laser photocoagulation were not statistically significant (P＞0.05). The differences of VEGF and PEDF expressions at one, two and three weeks after injection were statistically significant（VEGF:F=14.16,66.89,24.34; PEDF：F=4.22,62.04,233.05;P＜0.001）.Conclusion Intravitreal injection with KBP can inhibit CNV.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical results and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) through 4 years after single and multi-treatments of patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) caused by age-related macular degeneration(AMD). MethodsClinical data of 73 AMD cases (95 eyes) diagnosed through fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optic coherence tomography (OCT), treated with PDT were reviewed and analyzed in this hospital from June 2000 to June 2004. The changes of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus pictures, FFA, ICGA and OCT were compared before and after PDT. Follow-up time varied from 3 months to 4 years (mean, 2 years). ResultsThe mean age of 73 patients was 67.8 years old. The BCVA was from CF/10 cm to 1.0. At the final follow up, the BCVA was improved (increase≥2 lines) in 39 eyes (41.1%), stabilized (±1 line) in 51 eyes (53.7 %) and decreased 2 lines in 5 eyes (5.3%). Fundus hemorrhage and exudation reduced after PDT. FFA and ICGA showed CNV complete closure in 58 eyes (61.05%), partial closure in 6 eyes (6.32%), CNV incomplete closure in 22 eyes (23.16% ) and recurrence in 9 eyes (9.47%). After once PDT of 12 eyes with early-stage AMD, the BCVA improved (from 0.6 to 1.5), CNV completely closed, and the OCT showed disappearance of macular edema and neursensory retinal deta chment. No CN V recurred in our four years follow-up observation and the BCVA of the patients remained stable. The mean number of PDT treatment was 1.8 per eye in 95 cases. No serious local or systemic complications were encountered. ConclusionsSingle or multiple sessions of PDT can acheive long-term safety and efficacy. For early-stage AMD patients with minimally classic CNV, PDT can completely make CNV closed and reduce the risk of visual loss.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：275-279)
As a new and non-invasive imaging technology, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has been using in ocular fundus diseases, glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmic disorders for more than 4 years. The most valuable and efficient application of OCTA is in detecting neovascular diseases in the macula. The big advantage of OCTA is for diagnosing all kinds of choroidal neovascularization. OCTA can observe blood flow information in different layers of the retina. To a large extent, it changes our diagnostic thinking and pathway in macular diseases. Before acquiring OCTA image, the operator should be well trained to ensure to get high quality images with good signal strength and less artifact. OCTA report should show the segmentation slab that the ophthalmologist wants to see. So far, OCTA has difficulty to reach peripheral retina with default setting. Even so, OCTA has provided much information of blood flow within retinal vascular arcade for evaluating structural and functional changes. We are expecting that the swept source OCTA could give us better observation of the choroidal blood flow. That should be the breakthrough of the new generation of OCTA.