Advanced quantitative analysis of the sub-retinal pigment epithelial space in recurrent neovascular age-related macular degeneration

PLoS One. 2017 Nov 2;12(11):e0186955. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186955. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

To quantitatively evaluate changes in the sub-retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) space and determine the association with recurrent neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Twenty-two eyes treated with intravitreal aflibercept for treatment-naïve neovascular AMD were studied retrospectively. The sub-RPE area, volume, and central retinal thickness (CRT) were evaluated 1 and 2 months after the loading phase using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Recurrence was defined as newly detected neovascular activity during the 6 months after the loading phase. In eyes with recurrent AMD, the sub-RPE area increased significantly (P = 0.036) from 1 to 2 months after the loading phase and the sub-RPE volume increased marginally (P = 0.06). Subgroup analysis showed significant (P = 0.008 and P = 0.016, respectively) increases in the sub-RPE area and volume in typical AMD. In eyes with no recurrence, no significant changes occurred in the two parameters. No significant CRT changes occurred in eyes with or without a recurrence. A quantitative analysis demonstrated an increased likelihood of the sub-RPE space shortly after the loading phase in eyes with recurrent AMD; no changes occurred in eyes without a recurrence. These early changes in the sub-RPE space could indicate disease activity and are valuable for predicting recurrences of neovascular AMD.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Recurrence
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / pathology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Wet Macular Degeneration / pathology*

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan (JSPS KAKENHI, 17KO9150) to MS. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.