Project description:PurposeTo analyze the risk factors associated with emerging intraocular inflammation (IOI) after intravitreal brolucizumab injection (IVBr) to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD).MethodsThis study included 93 eyes of 90 patients. The incidence of emerging IOI was analyzed. The patients were classified into IOI or non-IOI groups, and background clinical characteristics in each group were compared.ResultsIOI occurred in 14 eyes of 14 cases (16%; five women, nine men [5:9]; IOI group) after IVBr; contrastingly, no IOI occurred in 76 patients (10 women, 66 men [10:66]; non-IOI group). The mean ages in IOI and non-IOI groups were 79.4 ± 8.1 and 73.8 ± 8.9 years old, respectively, and the average age in the IOI group was significantly higher than that in the non-IOI group (P = 0.0425). In addition, the percentages of females in the IOI and non-IOI groups were 43% and 13%, respectively, and IOI occurred predominantly in females (odds ratio: 4.95, P = 0.0076). Moreover, the prevalence of diabetes in the IOI and non-IOI groups was 64% and 32%, respectively, with a significant difference (odds ratio: 3.90, P = 0.0196). In contrast, the prevalence of hypertension in the IOI and non-IOI groups was 36% and 57%, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.15).ConclusionThe comparison of clinical profiles of IOI or non-IOI cases in IVBr treatment for AMD suggests that the risk factors for IOI are old age, female sex, and history of diabetes; however, IOI with vasculitis or vascular occlusion in this cohort does not seem to cause severe visual impairment. Further studies are required to investigate potential risk factors for IOI.
Project description:We evaluated the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) on choroidal thickness, and studied its association with the therapeutic response in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). The clinical features of 78 eyes with chronic CSC treated with IVB from October 2014 to June 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Visual acuity (VA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and sub-foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were analyzed at baseline, 1 month following initial IVB, and the last follow-up examination. Cases showing complete recovery (resolved eyes; n = 60) were compared with those with persistent subretinal fluid (refractory eyes; n = 18). The relationship between the potential risk factors and subretinal fluid resolution was examined using logistic regression. SFCT was significantly decreased along with the CRT following IVB at the resolved state. SFCT reduction following 1 month of IVB was notably greater in the resolved eyes. The association of refractory eyes with hypertension (p = 0.003) and a thinner baseline SFCT (p = 0.024) was significant. In most of the patients with chronic CSC, VA and CRT remarkably improved following treatment with IVB. Early changes in the SFCT following IVB were associated with the therapeutic response. Patients with hypertension and a thinner baseline SFCT could be unresponsive to IVB.
Project description:Objectives: To evaluate the one-year outcomes of intravitreal ranibizumab biosimilar (RBZ-BS) injections for myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) in Japanese patients. Methods: Twenty-one patients (mean age 69.0 years; 4 males, 17 females) with high myopia and mCNV were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve were treatment-naïve, and nine had previous anti-VEGF treatments. Efficacy measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT). Results: The treatment-naïve group showed significant BCVA improvement from 0.55 ± 0.34 at baseline to 0.24 ± 0.28 at 12 months. The previously treated group had no significant BCVA changes. CMT significantly decreased in both groups: from 295.3 ± 105.2 µm to 207.3 ± 63.0 µm in the treatment-naïve group, and from 196.1 ± 62.0 µm to 147.2 ± 50.1 µm in the previously treated group. Dry macula rates were high: 83% at 3 months and 83% at 12 months in the treatment-naïve group, and 67% at 3 months and 89% at 12 months in the previously treated group. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: These findings indicate that RBZ-BS is an effective and safe treatment for mCNV, particularly in treatment-naïve patients. The use of RBZ-BS offers a cost-effective alternative to original ranibizumab, reducing financial burdens while maintaining high therapeutic efficacy. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these results and evaluate long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Project description:IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to measure and to compare macular choroidal thickness (CT) between patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD), patients without AD, and elderly patients.MethodsCT was measured manually in 13 locations at 500-μm intervals of a horizontal and a vertical section from the fovea. Linear regression models were used to analyze the data.ResultsFifty patients with a diagnosis of mild AD (73.1 years), 152 patients without AD (71.03 years), and 50 elderly without AD (82.14 years) were included. In the AD patients, CT was significantly thinner in all 13 locations (P < .001-comparing with age-match group), and comparing with the elderly group, a more pronounced difference was found in two locations temporal to the fovea.DiscussionPatients with AD showed a significant choroidal thinning even when compared with elderly subjects. The reduction of CT may aid in the diagnoses of AD, probably reflecting the importance of vascular factors in their pathogenesis.
Project description:IntroductionIntravitreal injection of therapeutic medications has become one of the most commonly performed procedures in ophthalmology. Over the past decade, a number of guidelines have been published that recommend proper techniques to increase the safety of intravitreal injections. In this course, we teach and practice the skills necessary to perform safe intravitreal injections.MethodsThe course was developed for first-year ophthalmology residents and was designed to be delivered in one 2-hour session. Associated materials include guidelines for faculty facilitators and residents to prepare them for safe intravitreal injection of therapeutic medications. Also included are a slide presentation, wet-lab practice guidelines, and an evaluation form.ResultsLearner response has been universally very positive. Residents (N = 15) have reported that structured lectures with practice in the wet lab improved their skill for intravitreal injection of therapeutic medication.DiscussionOverall, we found that our curriculum improved learner knowledge about safe intravitreal injections and learners' self-assessed confidence in the three objectives of the curriculum.
Project description:Background: Pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) is a pachychoroid-spectrum disease. As blood circulation throughout the choroid may be involved in PNV pathogenesis, analysis using ultra-wide-field (UWF) fundus imaging is crucial. We evaluated choroidal thickness after half-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with intravitreal aflibercept injection for PNV using UWF swept-source optical coherence tomography. Methods: Seventeen eyes with PNV that underwent half-fluence PDT with an adjuvant single intravitreal aflibercept injection were analyzed. To compare choroidal thicknesses in the central and peripheral choroids, we set subfields <3, <9, and 9-18 mm from the fovea. The <9 and 9-18 mm subfields were divided into four quadrants. Results: Choroidal thickness in each subfield decreased significantly after half-fluence PDT (p < 0.001); this reduction was more pronounced in the central area. We also investigated the relationship between the dominant side of the deep choroidal veins that harbor choroidal vein efflux from the macula. When choroidal thickness in the supratemporal and infratemporal 9 mm subfields were evaluated, the ratio of choroidal thickness reduction was not significantly different between the dominant and non-dominant sides. The dominant side was not associated with the extent of choroidal thickness reduction in PNV. Conclusions: Half-fluence PDT caused thinning of the entire choroid, especially in the central area, in PNV.
Project description:We report 5-year visual and anatomical outcomes after combination therapy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal injection of ranibizumab or aflibercept for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and predictive factors for visual outcomes at 5-year and time to recurrence. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for 43 consecutive eyes with PCV treated with combination therapy of PDT and intravitreal injection of ranibizumab(n = 13) or aflibercept(n = 30) and completed 5-year follow-up. The variants of ARMS2 A69S and CFH I62V were genotyped using TaqMan assay. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) significantly improved at 5-year (P = 0.01) with 20% reduction of subfoveal choroidal thickness irrespective of presence or absence of recurrence. Visual improvement was associated with baseline shorter greatest linear dimension (GLD) (P = 1.0×10-4). Mean time to recurrence was 28.6±23.1 months (95% CI: 21.5-35.7, Median:18.0) and time to recurrence was associated with G allele (protective allele) of ARMS2 A69S and GLD (P = 4.0×10-4 and 1.0×10-2, respectively). Multiple regression analysis revealed that time to recurrence extended by 15.5 months when the G allele of ARMS2 A69S increased by one allele (TT: 15.7±17.0, TG: 30.8±23.5, GG: 41.1±22.6 months). The combination therapy resulted in a favorable visual outcome for PCV during 5-year follow-up.
Project description:PurposeTo evaluate whether choroidal thickness (CT) using arm-mounted optical coherence tomography (OCT) in infants screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) correlates with oxygen exposure in neonates.MethodsOCT images were obtained in infants screened for ROP in a single level IV neonatal intensive care unit. CT was measured at three different locations: the subfoveal center and 1.5 mm from the fovea center in each direction. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between clinical factors and CT. Clinical factors included gestational age, birth weight, presence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) at defined time points: 30 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA), 36 weeks PMA, and on day of imaging.ResultsMean subfoveal, nasal, and temporal choroidal thicknesses CT (SFCT, NCT, and TCT, respectively) were 228.0 ± 51.4 µm, 179.7 ± 50.3 µm, and 186.4 ± 43.8 µm, respectively. SFCT was found to be significantly thicker than NCT and TCT (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0002, respectively), but no significant difference was found between NCT and TCT (P = 0.547). Compared with infants without BPD, infants with BPD had thinner SFCT and NCT (P = 0.01 and P = 0.0008, respectively). Birth weight was positively correlated with SFCT (r = 0.39, P = 0.01) and NCT (r = 0.33, P = 0.045) but not TCT. Gestational age and ROP stage were not significantly associated with CT. SFCT was found to be significantly thinner with higher average FiO2 supplementation levels at 30 weeks PMA (r = -0.51, P = 0.01) but not at 36 weeks PMA. Regression analysis revealed that FiO2 at 30 weeks PMA was an independent predictor of SFCT in infants screened for ROP (P = 0.01).ConclusionsEarly postnatal exposure (<32 weeks PMA) to higher oxygen supplementation in premature neonates statistically predicts choroidal thinning.
Project description:The aim of the study was to assess retinal vascular changes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and aqueous humour changes of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PIGF) levels in treatment-naïve myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) after aflibercept intravitreal injection. To explore the correlation between clinical and laboratory parameters. Fifteen eyes of 15 patients with treatment-naïve mCNV underwent 2 intravitreal injections of aflibercept. Main outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT) and external limiting membrane (ELM) visualization at OCT, lesion area and leakage at fluorescein angiography (FA), OCTA flow area and selected area at baseline and after the injections. Analysis of VEGF and PlGF in the aqueous humor was performed before each injection in cases and prior to cataract surgery on 10 patients as included as controls. Median BCVA increased from 0.6 to 0.3 logMAR (p?<?0.001); CRT decreased from 387.5 to 267 micron (p?<?0.001); FA area from 0.8 to 0.5 mm2 and OCTA area from 0.9 to 0.5 mm2 (p?=?0.005). PIGF values changed from 1.8 to 1.4?pg/ml (p?=?0.019) and VEGF values from 3.4 to 0.5?pg/ml (p?=?0.008). A significant correlation was found after treatment between PIGF levels and BCVA (rho?=?0.006) and VEGF levels and BCVA (rho?=?0.018); between PlGF and CRT (rho?=?0.020), PlGF and ELM visualization (rho?=?0.002) and PlGF and FA leakage (rho?<?0.001). Our results showed a significant reduction of mCNV area after aflibercept in both FA and OCTA measurements; an improvement of BCVA, and a reduction of VEGF and PIGF levels related to inactivity of the disease.
Project description:BackgroundTo compare the one-year outcomes between intravitreal brolucizumab (IVBr) monotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a second-line treatment in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) who did not respond to first-line therapy.MethodsThis case-control study included eyes with PCV that do not respond to aflibercept or ranibizumab. The patients were retrospectively registered. We compared outcomes, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anatomical results, and the need for additional treatments, between IVBr and a combination therapy using PDT as second-line treatments for refractory PCV, after adjusting for potential confounders. We analyzed E-values to evaluate the robustness of the results against unmeasured confounders.ResultsTwenty-two eyes received IVBr, and twenty-four underwent PDT. No apparent differences were observed in BCVA and central macular thickness (CMT) changes from baseline between the groups (IVBr vs. PDT: BCVA, 0.01 ± 0.47 logMAR vs. 0.04 ± 0.18 logMAR, P-value = 0.756; CMT: - 36.3 ± 99.4 μm vs. - 114.7 ± 181.4 μm, P-value = 0.146). Only in the PDT group, five eyes (20.8%) did not require additional treatment after the second-line treatment, the adjusted odds ratio indicating no further treatment needed was 11.98 (95% confidence interval: 1.42-2070.07, P-value = 0.019). The E-value for the adjusted odds ratio was 23.44.ConclusionsBoth second-line treatments for PCV exhibited similar visual and anatomical outcomes. Only in the PDT-treated eyes were there some patients who did not require further treatment after second-line therapy.