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NEW BIOMARKER QUANTIFYING THE EFFECT OF ANTI-VEGF THERAPY IN EYES WITH PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY ON ULTRAWIDE FIELD FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY: RECOVERY Study.
Fan, W, Nittala, MG, Wykoff, CC, Brown, DM, Uji, A, Hemert, JV, Fleming, A, Robertson, G, Sadda, SR, Ip, M
Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.). 2022;(3):426-433
Abstract
PURPOSE To quantify changes of the retinal vascular bed area (RVBA) in mm2 on stereographically projected ultrawide field fluorescein angiography images in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy after antivascular endothelial growth factor injection. METHODS This is a prospective, observational study. The early-phase ultrawide field fluorescein angiography images (Optos 200Tx) of 40 eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and significant nonperfusion obtained at baseline and after six months (NCT02863354) were stereographically projected by correcting peripheral distortion. The global retinal vasculature on ultrawide field fluorescein angiography was extracted for calculating RVBA by summing the real size (mm2) of all the pixels automatically. RESULTS For the entire cohort, the global RVBA for the entire retina decreased from 67.1 ± 15.5 to 43.6 ± 18.8 mm2 after anti-VEGF treatment at six months (P < 0.001). In the subgroup receiving monthly anti-VEGF injections, the global RVBA decreased from 68.7 ± 16.2 to 33.9 ± 13.3 mm2 (P < 0.001). In the subgroup receiving anti-VEGF every three months, the global RVBA decreased from 65.6 ± 15.1 to 50.8 ± 19.3 mm2 (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION RVBA seems to be a new biomarker to indicate efficiency of retinal vascular changes after anti-VEGF injection. Eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and significant nonperfusion demonstrate reduced RVBA after anti-VEGF treatment.
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Longitudinal panretinal microaneurysm dynamics on ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography in eyes treated with intravitreal aflibercept for proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the recovery study.
Babiuch, A, Wykoff, CC, Hach, J, Srivastava, S, Talcott, KE, Yu, HJ, Nittala, M, Sadda, S, Ip, MS, Le, T, et al
The British journal of ophthalmology. 2021;(8):1111-1115
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Quantifying microaneurysms (MAs) turnover may be an objective measure for therapeutic response in diabetic retinopathy. This study assesses changes in MA counts on ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFA) in subjects undergoing treatment with intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in the Intravitreal Aflibercept for Retinal Non-Perfusion in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy(RECOVERY) study using an automated MA detection platform. METHODS RECOVERY is a prospective study that enrolled 40 subjects with PDR randomised 1:1 to receive 2 mg IAI every 4 weeks(q4wk) or every 12 weeks (q12wk). UWFA images were obtained at baseline, 6 months and 1 year. Images were analysed using an automated segmentation platform to detect and quantify MAs. Zones 1, 2 and 3 correspond to the macula, mid-periphery and far-periphery, respectively. RESULTS The q4wk cohort demonstrated a significant decline in MAs in all zones and panretinally at baseline versus month 6, baseline versus year 1, and month 6 versus year 1 (-20.0% to -61.8%; all p<0.001). In the q12wk cohort, baseline versus month 6 showed a significant decline panretinally (mean: -34.2%; p<0.001) and in zone 3 (mean -44.18%; p<0.001). Addiitonally, baseline to year 1 in the q12wk group demonstrated significant decline panretinally (mean: -47.7%; p<0.001) and in zone 3 (mean: -59.8%; p<0.001). All zones demonstrated significantly decline from month 6 to year 1 in the q12wk group. CONCLUSION Therapy with IAI demonstrates significantly reduced panretinal MA counts in PDR at 1 year in both treatment groups. The use of automated platforms to detect and quantify MAs may provide a novel imaging marker for evaluating disease activity and therapeutic impact. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02863354.
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Longitudinal Panretinal Leakage and Ischemic Indices in Retinal Vascular Disease after Aflibercept Therapy: The PERMEATE Study.
Figueiredo, N, Srivastava, SK, Singh, RP, Babiuch, A, Sharma, S, Rachitskaya, A, Talcott, K, Reese, J, Hu, M, Ehlers, JP
Ophthalmology. Retina. 2020;(2):154-163
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Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize the longitudinal panretinal retinal vascular dynamics in diabetic macular edema (DME) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) over a 12-month period while being treated with intravitreal aflibercept injections (IAIs). DESIGN Prospective open-label study (clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT02503540). PARTICIPANTS Thirty-one treatment-naive eyes with foveal-involving retinal edema secondary to DME and RVO. METHODS Participants received 2 mg IAI every 4 weeks for the first 6 months, followed by 2 mg every 8 weeks. Ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFA; California Optos [Optos, Dunfermline, United Kingdom]) and spectral-domain OCT (Cirrus; Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany) scans were obtained and analyzed using a novel quantitative assessment platform. Visual acuity, central subfield thickness, and adverse events also were collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary end point was the mean change in panretinal leakage index at month 12 from baseline as measured by UWFA. RESULTS Mean age was 67.1 years. At month 12, visual acuity significantly improved by a mean of 18.4±21.4 letters (P < 0.0001), and central subfield thickness also improved significantly, with a mean reduction of 301.3±250.3 μm (P < 0.0001). Mean panretinal leakage index improved significantly, decreasing from 3.4% at baseline to 0.5% at month 6 (P <0.0001) and 0.4% at month 12 (P < 0.0001). Panretinal ischemic index did not demonstrate any significant change but showed a nonsignificant increase from 5.5% at baseline to 6.1% at month 6 (P = 0.315) and 8.7% at month 12 (P = 0.193). Eyes with DME showed a decrease in leakage index from 3.5±2.7% at baseline to 1.6±0.8% at month 12 (P = 0.018) and overall stability in ischemic index from 5.0±4.1% at baseline to 4.7±3.5% at month 12 (P = 0.689). Participants with RVO showed a decrease in leakage index from 3.3±1.1% at baseline to 0.02±0.03% at 12 months (P < 0.0001) and a nonsignificant increase in ischemic index from 5.9±4.5% at baseline to 12.6±9.8% at month 12 (P = 0.172). CONCLUSIONS Intravitreal aflibercept injections resulted in a dramatic reduction in panretinal leakage index. Panretinal ischemic index did not improve and trended toward worsening.
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Relationship Between Retinal Fractal Dimension and Nonperfusion in Diabetic Retinopathy on Ultrawide-Field Fluorescein Angiography.
Fan, W, Nittala, MG, Fleming, A, Robertson, G, Uji, A, Wykoff, CC, Brown, DM, van Hemert, J, Ip, M, Wang, K, et al
American journal of ophthalmology. 2020;:99-106
Abstract
PURPOSE To correlate fractal dimension (FD) of the retinal vasculature with the extent of retinal nonperfusion area in diabetic retinopathy (DR) on ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography (FA). DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS Baseline Optos 200Tx ultrawide-field FA images of 80 eyes with DR from the DAVE (NCT01552408) and RECOVERY (NCT02863354) studies were stereographically projected at the Doheny Image Reading Center. The retinal vasculature was extracted from an early-phase FA frame by exploiting the elongated nature of the vessels and then skeletonized for calculation of FD using a box-counting method. The nonperfusion area was delineated by 2 independent, reading center-certified graders who were masked to the study groups and who were using a standardized protocol and then computed in millimeters squared. RESULTS While no difference in FD was observed for the entire retina in DR compared with normal control subjects, a significantly smaller FD was found in the far-periphery of the DR eyes (P < .001). FD for the entire retina was negatively associated with global nonperfusion area (R = -0.44; P < .001), and this relationship was also present within the 3 concentric retinal zones (posterior: R = -0.31, P = .016; midperiphery: R = -0.35, P = .007; and far periphery: R = -0.31, P = .015). CONCLUSIONS Peripheral FD on ultrawide-field FA is reduced in DR eyes compared with normal eyes and is correlated with severity of retinal nonperfusion. FD can be calculated automatically without the need for correction of peripheral distortion, and therefore it may prove to be a useful surrogate biomarker when precise quantification of nonperfusion is not feasible.
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RETINAL LEAKAGE INDEX DYNAMICS ON ULTRA-WIDEFIELD FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY IN EYES TREATED WITH INTRAVITREAL AFLIBERCEPT FOR PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY IN THE RECOVERY STUDY.
Babiuch, AS, Wykoff, CC, Srivastava, SK, Talcott, K, Zhou, B, Hach, J, Hu, M, Reese, JL, Ehlers, JP
Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.). 2020;(11):2175-2183
Abstract
PURPOSE Characterization of leakage indices on ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography in proliferative diabetic retinopathy treated with intravitreal aflibercept. METHODS Prospective study enrolling subjects for treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy randomized 1:1 to receive 2-mg intravitreal aflibercept every 4 weeks (2q4) or every 12 weeks (2q12). Ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography images obtained at baseline, 24, and 48 weeks were analyzed using a semiautomated leakage segmentation platform. Panretinal and zonal leakage indices were calculated. RESULTS Forty eyes of 40 subjects were included, and mean age was 48 ± 12.1 years. Mean number of injections was 11 ± 1.7 in the 2q4 arm and 4 ± 0.4 in the 2q12 arm. Median baseline leakage index in the 2q4 and 2q12 groups was 5.1% and 4.3%, respectively (P = 0.28). At 24 and 48 weeks, the 2q4 group significantly improved to 1.1% (-79%, P < 0.0001). At Week 24, the 2q12 group demonstrated nonsignificant improvement (3.4%; -21%, P = 0.47); by Week 48, improvement was significant (1.4%; -68%, P = 0.02). The 2q4 group resulted in lower leakage index compared with the 2q12 group at 24 weeks (1.1% vs. 3.4%, respectively; P = 0.008), but by 48 weeks, leakage index was similar between both groups (1.1% vs. 1.4%, respectively; P = 0.34). CONCLUSION Proliferative diabetic retinopathy treated with intravitreal aflibercept demonstrated significant leakage index reductions at 1 year. Monthly dosing provided more rapid reduction in leakage index compared with quarterly dosing. TRIAL REGISTRATION RECOVERY study (NCT02863354); https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02863354.
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Automated vessel density detection in fluorescein angiography images correlates with vision in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Bawany, MH, Ding, L, Ramchandran, RS, Sharma, G, Wykoff, CC, Kuriyan, AE
PloS one. 2020;(9):e0238958
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the correlation between quantifiable vessel density, computed in an automated fashion, from ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFFA) images from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) with visual acuity and macular thickness. METHODS We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective randomized controlled trial. We designed and trained an algorithm to automate retinal vessel detection from input UWFFA images. We then used our algorithm to study the correlation between baseline vessel density and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CRT for patients in the RECOVERY study. Reliability of the algorithm was tested using the intraclass correlation (ICC). 42 patients from the Intravitreal Aflibercept for Retinal Non-Perfusion in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (RECOVERY) trial who had both baseline UWFFA images and optical coherence tomography (OCT) data were included in our study. These patients had PDR without significant center-involving diabetic macular edema (central retinal thickness [CRT] ≤320μm). RESULTS Our algorithm analyzed UWFFA images with a reliability measure (ICC) of 0.98. A positive correlation (r = 0.4071, p = 0.0075) was found between vessel density and BCVA. No correlation was found between vessel density and CRT. CONCLUSIONS Our algorithm is capable of reliably quantifying vessel density in an automated fashion from baseline UWFFA images. We found a positive correlation between computed vessel density and BCVA in PDR patients without center-involving macular edema, but not CRT. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE Our work is the first to offer an algorithm capable of quantifying vessel density in an automated fashion from UWFFA images, allowing us to work toward studying the relationship between retinal vascular changes and important clinical endpoints, including visual acuity, in ischemic eye diseases.
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Aflibercept Reduces Retinal Hemorrhages and Intravitreal Microvascular Abnormalities But Not Venous Beading: Secondary Analysis of the CLARITY Study.
Pearce, E, Chong, V, Sivaprasad, S
Ophthalmology. Retina. 2020;(7):689-694
Abstract
PURPOSE Approximately 50% of patients receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy show significant improvement in diabetic retinopathy severity score (DRSS), in particular at DRSS level 47 to 53 (moderately severe to severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy). Level 47 to 53 consists of 3 main features: deep hemorrhages (DH), venous beading (VB), and intraretinal microvascular abnormalities (IRMAs). It is unclear whether these features respond to anti-VEGF therapies differently. DESIGN Post hoc analysis of Intravitreal Aflibercept versus Panretinal Photocoagulation in Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (CLARITY) study. PARTICIPANTS Treatment-naïve participants randomized to intravitreal aflibercept. METHODS We reanalyzed the fundus images at baseline, week 12, and week 52 to assess the changes of the 3 main features in DRSS level 47 to 53 in those patients who were treatment naïve and had received aflibercept. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes in DH, VB, and IRMA after aflibercept therapy at weeks 12 and 52. RESULTS Fifty-five treatment-naïve eyes at baseline that received aflibercept were included in the study. Severe DH and severe IRMA improved in approximately 75% of eyes at week 12 and mostly remained improved at week 52; VB remained unchanged in all eyes at week 12. From 12 weeks, 32 eyes that had received injections showed improved or stable DH compared with 7 eyes that did not receive injections, and DH deteriorated in 6 eyes with no further injections compared with 4 eyes that had received more injections (P = 0.0072). Similarly, 15 eyes that continued to receive injections from week 12 showed improved or stable IRMA compared with 4 who did not receive injections (P = 0.006). Worsening of IRMA was seen in 5 eyes with no further injections compared with 4 eyes that continued to receive injections. The improvements in DH and IRMA are more likely to be maintained if less than 16 weeks have elapsed since the last anti-VEGF injection. CONCLUSIONS Aflibercept seems to improve DH and IRMA after just 3 injections. As soon as the frequency of injections were reduced, DH and IRMA can deteriorate again. It is unclear whether these results can be translated to patients without PDR.
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Alterations in retinal arteriolar microvascular structure associate with higher treatment burden in patients with diabetic macular oedema: results from a 12-month prospective clinical trial.
Blindbaek, SL, Peto, T, Grauslund, J
Acta ophthalmologica. 2020;(4):353-359
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PURPOSE This study was based on data from a 12-month prospective clinical trial and aimed to examine changes in retinal microvascular structure in eyes treated with intravitreal aflibercept in combination with focal/grid laser photocoagulation for diabetic macular oedema (DME). METHODS We included 32 treatment naïve eyes of 22 patients with centre involving DME. The treatment algorithm comprised a loading phase of three monthly injections of aflibercept and focal/grid laser photocoagulation [baseline (BL)-month 3 (M3)] followed by a pro re nata (PRN) aflibercept phase until month 12 (M12). Eyes were divided into groups with and without need for PRN treatment after loading. Parameters of retinal microvascular structure were measured in 45° optic disc centred fundus images at BL, M3 and M12 using a semi-automated software (VAMPIRE®, Vessel Assessment and Measurement Platform for Images of the Retina, Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh, UK). RESULTS A significant decrease in retinal arteriolar calibre was demonstrated at both M3 (-11.2 μm, p = 0.005) and M12 (-11.5 μm, p = 0.04) as compared to BL in eyes that needed PRN treatment during follow-up. In contrast, arteriolar calibre remained unchanged in eyes without need for PRN treatment (M3: -1.6 μm, p = 0.79 and M12: -7.0 μm, p = 0.22). For retinal venules, vessel calibre decreased both in eyes with and without need for PRN therapy at M3 (-9.5 μm, p = 0.01 and -11.6 μm, p = 0.01) as well as at M12 (-15.6 μm, p = 0.001 and -11.0 μm, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION Early changes in retinal arteriolar calibre are associated with an increased treatment burden during the first year of DME treatment.
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Effects of Rosuvastatin and Aspirin on Retinal Vascular Structures in Hypercholesterolemic Patients with Low-to-Moderate Risk of Coronary Artery Disease.
Li, L, Wang, S, Huang, H, Cai, Y, Xi, Y, Bai, Y, Ma, C
American journal of cardiovascular drugs : drugs, devices, and other interventions. 2019;(4):415-420
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Atherosclerosis erodes large elastic arteries and damages peripheral small vessels. Evaluating retinal vessel caliber enables exploration of the effect of improving microcirculation with statins. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether rosuvastatin therapy improves retinal vasculature in hypercholesterolemic patients with a low-to-moderate risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS This was a prospective, open-label, randomized study in which 127 patients were enrolled and randomized (ratio 1:1) into rosuvastatin and control groups. RESULTS Rosuvastatin increased retinal arteriolar calibers by 3.560 µm at 12 months, decreased retinal venular calibers by 3.110 µm at 6 months and by 5.860 µm at 12 months, and increased the artery-vein ratio (AVR) by 2.68% at 6 months and by 5.90% at 12 months. Meanwhile, in the control group, retinal arteriolar calibers decreased by 1.110 µm at 12 months, retinal venular calibers increased by 1.020 µm at 6 months and by 1.04 µm at 12 months, and AVR decreased by 1.12% at 6 months and by 1.73% at 12 months. All the above parameters were statistically significant between groups, but there was no significant change in retinal arteriolar calibers at 6 months. The increased AVR correlated significantly with decreased C-reactive protein (CRP) at 6 months and decreased low-density lipoprotein and CRP at 12 months. DISCUSSION For patients with a low-to-moderate risk of CAD, we found a significant effect of rosuvastatin on retinal microvasculature, including AVR increase, venular constriction, and arteriolar dilation after 6-12 months of treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier number ChiCTR-IOR-15006664.
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Theobromine consumption does not improve fasting and postprandial vascular function in overweight and obese subjects.
Smolders, L, Mensink, RP, van den Driessche, JJ, Joris, PJ, Plat, J
European journal of nutrition. 2019;(3):981-987
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BACKGOUND Theobromine, a component of cocoa, may favorably affect conventional lipid-related cardiovascular risk markers, but effects on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and other vascular function markers are not known. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of 4-week theobromine consumption (500 mg/day) on fasting and postprandial vascular function markers. DESIGN In a randomized, double-blind crossover study, 44 apparently healthy overweight (N = 30) and obese (N = 14) men and women with low HDL-C concentrations, consumed daily 500 mg theobromine or placebo for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, FMD, peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), augmentation index (AIx), pulse wave velocity (PWV), blood pressure (BP) and retinal microvasculature measurements were performed. These measurements were carried out under fasting conditions and 2.5 h after a high-fat mixed meal challenge. RESULTS 4-week theobromine consumption did not change fasting vascular function markers, except for a decrease in central AIx (cAIx, - 1.7 pp, P = 0.037) and a trend towards smaller venular calibers (- 2 µm, P = 0.074). Consuming a high-fat mixed meal decreased FMD (0.89 pp, P = 0.002), reactive hyperemia index (RHI, - 0.30, P < 0.001), peripheral systolic BP (SBP, - 3 mmHg, P ≤ 0.001), peripheral diastolic BP (DBP, - 2 mmHg, P ≤ 0.001), central SBP (- 6 mmHg, P ≤ 0.001) and central DBP (- 2 mmHg, P ≤ 0.001), but increased heart rate (HR, 2 bpm, P < 0.001). Theobromine did not modify these postprandial effects, but increased postprandially the brachial artery diameter (0.03 cm, P = 0.015), and decreased the cAIx corrected for a HR of 75 (cAIx75, - 5.0 pp, P = 0.004) and peripheral AIx (pAIx, - 6.3 pp, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION Theobromine consumption did not improve fasting and postprandial endothelial function, but increased postprandial peripheral arterial diameters and decreased the AIx. These findings do not suggest that theobromine alone contributes to the proposed cardioprotective effects of cocoa. This trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov under study number NCT02209025.