ObjectiveTo observe the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in the inner limiting membrane (ILM) of diabetic retinopathy (DR) with macular edema, and analyze the correlation between VEGF and AQP4 expression. Methods A cross-sectional study. From September 2019 to September 2020, 38 eyes of 38 patients with DR and idiopathic macular hole (iMH) who underwent vitrectomy (PPV) combined with ILM stripping at the Hangzhou campus of The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University at Hangzhou were included in the study. Among them, there were 25 males and 13 females who aged 37-76 years old, average age was 59±10 years old; All eye included 15 right eyes and 23 left eyes. iMH and DR included 9 eyes in 9 cases and 29 eyes in 29 cases, respectively, and they were divided into iMH group and DR group. The DR group was divided into DME group and no DME group according to whether it was accompanied by diabetic macular edema (DME), with 14 eyes and 15 eyes respectively. After the stripped ILM tissue was fixed, immunofluorescence analysis was performed to obtain a picture of the fluorescence mode of AQP4 and VEGF, and the fluorescence intensity value of VEGF and AQP4 was measured by Image J software. The differences of VEGF and AQP4 immunofluorescence values in the specimens between groups were compared by one-way analysis of variance. The correlation between the fluorescence intensity of AQP4 and the fluorescence intensity of VEGF was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results The average fluorescence intensity values?of VEGF and AQP4 in ILM specimens of DME group, no DME group and iMH group were 38.96±7.53, 28.25±3.12, 30.07±4.84 and 49.07±8.73, 37.96±6.45, 38.08±5.04, respectively. The average fluorescence intensity of VEGF and AQP4 in the ILM specimens of the DME group was significantly higher than that of the no DME group and iMH group, and the difference was statistically significant (F=13.977, 9.454; P＜0.05). The average fluorescence intensity values of VEGF and AQP4 on IML specimens in the DR group were 33.80±7.91, 43.76±9.44, respectively. The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that the fluorescence intensity of VEGF and AQP4 in the ILM specimens of the DR group was significantly positively correlated (r=0.597, P=0.003). ConclusionsThe expressions of VEGF and AQP4 in ILM of eyes with DR and DME are significantly increased compared with those without DME. The expression of VEGF and AQP4 in ILM of eyes with DR is positively correlated.
Objective
To expolre the factors which affect the size of diabetic,macular fobeal avascss scular zone(FAZ).
Methods
Making ten years of duration of diabetes a limit,79 nonproliferative and early proliferative diabetic patients were divided into 2 groups.Diabetic retinopathy severity level was diveided into 4 stages,and the macular edema was subdivided into focal、diffuse and cystoid according to fluorescein leakage of foveomacular region.All patients were measured FAZ with Heidelberg scanning laser fluoresceion angiography system and then compaired the size of FAZ of patients with different duration of diabetes、diabetic retinopathy severity level and macular edema status.The results were performed analysis of variance and t test.
ResultsThe study shown the size of FAZ was not directly related to the duration of diabetes(t=1.3854,Pgt;0.1);There were significant differences about the size of FAZ of patients with different diabetic retinopathy severity level(F=7.6251,P＜0.01)and macular edema status(F=5.4369,P＜0.01)．
Conclusion
The size of FAZ was significantly increased in diabetic patients.It was enlarged with the development of diabetic retinopathy severity level,but it was not related to duration of diabetes.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2000,16:155-156)
ObjectiveTo observe the incidence and risk factors of microcystic macular edema (MME) in patients with idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane (IMEM) preoperatively and postoperatively. MethodsA retrospective case series study. From January 2017 to May 2021, 72 eyes of 72 patients with IMEM in Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University at Hangzhou were included. There were 18 male and 54 female. Average age was 64.8±7.8 years. Eyes were all monocular. All patients received the examination of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) by standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, which was represented logarithmic of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). Optical coherence tomography was used to measure central macular thickness (CMT). MME was defined as small, vertically bounded cystic space located outside the fovea in the inner layer of the retina. According to the presence or absence of MME before surgery, the affected eyes were divided into two groups: non-MME group (35 eyes) and MME group (37 eyes). The difference of logMAR BCVA and CMT was statistically significant between Group A and B (t=3.117, 2.589; P=0.003, 0.012). All patients with IMEM were treated with 23G three-channels pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with epiretinal membrane and inner limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. The two groups were further divided into four groups according to whether there was MME in the postoperative follow-up time. The group A1 was without MME before and after surgery, group A2 was without MME before surgery and with MME after surgery. The MME group was subdivided into the group with MME before surgery and without MME after surgery (group B1) and the group with MME before and after surgery (group B2). The mean follow-up time was 8.8±7.7 months. The same equipment and methods were used to exam the patients during the follow-up. Paired t test was used to compare the changes of MME, BCVA and CMT before and after surgery. The differences of CMT and BCVA among groups before and after surgery were compared by independent sample t test and one-way ANOVA. Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of MME before and after surgery, and multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of postoperative BCVA. ResultsThere were 35 eyes in the non-MME group, 18 eyes (51.43%, 18/35) in the A1 group and 17 eyes (48.57%, 17/35) in the A2 group, respectively. There were 37 eyes in MME group, 6 eyes (16.22%, 6/37) in group B1 and 31 eyes (83.78%, 31/37) in group B2, respectively. At last follow-up, the logMAR BCVA was 0.10±0.12, 0.25±0.17, 0.09±0.11, 0.30±0.26 in group A1, A2, B1, and B2, respectively. Compared with the logMAR BCVA before surgery, the differences were statistically significant (t=3.779, 4.253, 7.869, 6.668; P＜0.01). There was significant difference in logMAR BCVA among the four groups (F=4.460, P＜0.01). There was a significant difference in logMAR BCVA between group A1 and group A2 (t=－2.930, P=0.006). There was no significant difference between group B1 and group B2 (t=－1.921, P=0.063). The CMT of group A1, A2, B1 and B2 were 371.83±73.24, 431.24±83.13, 407.00±28.07 and 425.19±70.97 μm, respectively. Compared with those before operation, the differences were statistically significant (t=5.197, 2.465, 3.055, 6.078; P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in CMT among the four groups (F=2.597, P=0.059). Logistic regression analysis showed that pre-operation MME was correlated with pre-operation IMEM stage (β=1.494, P=0.004). New MME after surgery was correlated with age (β=0.153, P=0.013). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that postoperative visual acuity was significantly correlated with CMT before surgery and MME after surgery (β=0.001, 0.134; P=0.015, 0.019). ConclusionsPPV combined with epiretinal membrane and ILM peeling surgery for IMEM can improve visual acuity and decrease CMT. MME regress or regenerate after surgery. Age is an independent predictor of the risk of newly formed MME after surgery.
At present, intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents is the main method for the treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO), which can significantly inhibit neovascularization, release macular edema and improve the vision of patients. However, VEGF is a survival factor of vascular endothelial cells, whether it can lead to the progress of retinal ischemia and it has an effect on retinal capillaries deserves our clinical attention. Most scholars currently think that the anti-VEGF agents will not aggravate the occlusion of retinal capillaries in the treatment of macular edema secondary to RVO from the aspects of the changes of perifoveal capillary arcade, the quantification of foveal avascular zone area, retinal nonperfusion area and retinal vascular density of the superficial and deep capillary plexus In addition, the changes of these indicators may be related to the number of times patients need treatment, visual prognosis and so on. In the future, with the gradual popularization of OCT angiography and the prolongation of the number and time of anti VEGF drug treatment, we look forward to the study of larger samples and longer follow-up time to further analyze the influence of the retinal capillary after anti-VEGF therapy in patients with macular edema associated with RVO.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of macular microvascular structure in eyes with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO-ME) after intravitreal injection of conbercept and analyze its relationship with visual function and central retinal thickness (CRT).MethodsA prospective clinical study. From July 2018 to June 2019, 21 eyes of 21 patients with unilateral temporal BRVO-ME diagnosed in the Department of Ophthalmology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were included in the study. Among them, there were 14 eyes of 14 males and 7 eyes of 7 females; the average age was 58.0±8.3 years. There were 13 eyes and 8 eyes with occlusion of the superior temporal and inferior temporal branches of the retinal vein, respectively. The affected area was defined as the side of the venous obstruction. All the affected eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) examination. The BCVA was tested using the international standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, which was converted into the logarithmic minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity during statistical analysis. All the eyes were treated with intravitreal injection of conbercept once a month for 3 months, and then treated as needed. A 3 mm × 3 mm scan centered on fovea was obtained and the vascular density of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), fovea avascular zone (FAZ) area, perimeter of FAZ (PERIM), acircularity index (AI), foveal vascular density in a 300 μm wide region around FAZ (FD-300) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were measured. The follow-up time after treatment was 6 months. The vascular density and FAZ parameters were compared before and after treatment by paired t test. The correlations of BCVA, CRT and vascular density, FAZ area and the other parameters at 6 months after treatment were analyzed by linear regression analysis. ResultsBefore treatment, the logMAR BCVA of the eyes was 0.506±0.159, and the CRT was 375.4±81.3 μm; 6 months after treatment, the logMAR BCVA of the eyes was 0.294±0.097, and the CRT was 266.3±46.7 μm. There was a statistically significant difference of logMAR BCVA and CRT between the eyes before and after treatment (t=8.503, 9.843; P＜0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the overall vascular density of SCP and DCP before and 6 months after treatment (t=－0.091, －0.320; P＞0.05). The foveal vascular density decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (t=8.801, 3.936; P＜0.05). The vascular density of DCP of the affected area increased, and the difference was statistically significant (t=－2.198, P＜0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the FAZ area and PERIM of the affected eyes had an increasing trend, while AI and FD-300 had a decreasing trend, and the differences were statistically significant (t=－18.071, －12.835, 2.555, 8.610; P＜0.05). The linear regression analysis showed that BCVA and FAZ area 6 months after treatment have significant correlation (t=2.532, P=0.024). ConclusionCRT decreased and BCVA increased after intravitreal injection of conbercept in BRVO-ME eyes. After treatment, the foveal vascular density of SCP and DCP decreased while the vascular density of DCP of the affected area increased. The FAZ increased and the PERIM and AI decreased during follow-up. The BCVA was significantly correlated with the FAZ area 6 months after treatment.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of repeated intravitreal conbercept injection in patients with macular edema (ME) of retinal vein occlusion (RVO), guided by optic coherence tomography (OCT). Methods It is a retrospective case study. Forty patients (40 eyes) diagnosed as ME secondary to RVO were enrolled in this study. There were 19 males (19 eyes) and 21 females (21 eyes), with the mean age of (53.58±13.19) years and the mean course of 1.5 months. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and OCT were performed. The mean baseline of BCVA, central macular thickness (CMT) were 0.25±0.18 and (509.48±170.13) μm respectively. All the patients were treated with 10.00 mg/ml conbercept 0.05 ml (including conbercept 0.5 mg). Follow-up of these patients was 1 to 6 months after treatments, the BCVA, fundus manifestations, OCT were retrospectively observed by every month, the FFA was retrospectively observed by every 3 months. When there was retinal edema or CMT ≥50 μm by OCT during follow-up, those patients were retreated with intravitreal conbercept injection. The changes of the BCVA, CMT were evaluated before and after treatment. Meanwhile, complications in eyes related to medicine and treatment methods were evaluated too. Results At the 6 months, the BCVA was improved (increase≥2 lines) in 25 eyes (62.50%), stabilized (±1 line) in 13 eyes (32.50%) and decreased 2 lines in 2 eyes (5.00%). Retinal hemorrhage and exudates were absorbed in most patients. FFA showed no fluorescein leakage in 11 eyes (27.50%), minor fluorescein leakage in 26 eyes (65.00%), and retinal capillary non-perfusion in 3 eyes (7.50%). OCT showed absorption of the subretinal fluid. The mean CMT were (235.20±100.44) μm at 6 months. Intravitreal injection of conbercept was applied for 4 times in 8 eyes (20.00%), 3 times for 18 eyes (45.00%), and 2 times for 14 eyes (35.00%). The mean number of intravitreal injection was 2.85 times. There were no ocular or systemic adverse events observed in all patients. Conclusion Intravitreal conbercept injection is an efficacy and safe treatment for the patients with ME of RVO guided by OCT. It can stabilize and improve the visual acuity.
Macular edema (ME) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion（CRVO) often cause severe visual impairment. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents and steroids can effectively eliminate ME and improve visual function, but the visual outcome is affected by multiple factors. Retinal blood flow, especially the macular microcirculation, has significant correlation with visual outcome. Ischemic CRVO, especially patients with severe damage in the deep and superficial vascular layer of the macular zone, usually have poor visual outcome. In addition, the integrity of the multi-layer retinal structure closely correlates with the visual outcome. Patients with intact ellipsoid zone, external limit membrane beneath the fovea have good visual recovery. Additionally, good baseline visual acuity, positive response to treatment in early phase, young age and timely treatment usually brings about better visual outcome.
ObjectiveTo observe the application of ultra wide angle FFA (UWFA) in the study of the correlation between diabetic macular edema (DME) and retinal ischemia.MethodsOne hundred and forty-five patients (220 eyes) with diabetic retinopathy (DR) diagnosed by fundus and FFA in Shaanxi Eye Hospital from January to August in 2018 were enrolled in the study. There were 132 eyes from 85 males and 88 eyes from 60 females. The average age was 54.87±10.89 years old, 171 eyes were non proliferative DR (mild 27 eyes, moderate 32 eyes, severe 112 eyes), 49 eyes were proliferative DR. There were 141 eyes with retinal ischemia. None of them received retinal laser photocoagulation, intravitreal injection of drugs and other eye surgery. UK Optomap200Tx imaging system was used for UWFA examination. According to whether the central macular retina of 2 disc diameter area was involved, the eyes were divided into DME group (183 eyes) and non DME group (37 eyes). According to different appearance of fluorescein leakage in macular zone, DME group was further divided into focal leakage (FL) group, diffuse leakage (DL) group and diffuse cystic leakage (DCL) group, with 94, 73 and 16 eyes, respectively. The incidence of retinal ischemia, retinal neovascularization (RNV) and/or NVD were compared between DME group and non DME group, and the difference of retinal ischemia index (IIS) of three macular edema subgroups was further compared. The differences of retinal ischemia, RNV and/or NVD between DME group and non DME group were compared by chi square test or Fisher exact probability method. The different retinal IIS of three macular edema subgroups was compared by one-way ANOVA.ResultsAmong 183 eyes in DME group, 132 eyes (72.13%, 132/183) were accompanied with retinal ischemia, and 9 eyes (24.32%, 9/37) were accompanied with retinal ischemia in non DME group. There was significant difference in the incidence of retinal ischemia between the two groups (χ2= 30.56, P＜0.05). In FL group, DL group and DCL group, there were 51 (54.26%, 51/94), 70 (95.89%, 70/73) and 11 (68.75%, 11/16) eyes with retinal ischemia, and 11 (11.70%, 11/94), 30 (41.10%, 30/73) and 4 (25.00%, 4/16) eyes with NVD and/or RNV, respectively, The retinal ischemia indexes of these three groups were 0.0516±0.0961, 0.2192±0.2166, 0.1244±0.1460. There were statistically significant differences in the incidences of retinal ischemia (χ2=35.53), NVD and/or RNV (χ2=18.50) and retinal ischemia indexes (F=22.80) among the three groups (P=0.000 0, ＜0.050 0, ＜ 0.000 1).ConclusionsUWFA can dynamically evaluate the retinal ischemia in DME patients, and the enlargement of ischemic area. The formation of RNV are more likely to form DL macular edema.
Integrins is a family of multi-functional cell-adhesion molecules, heterodimeric receptors that connect extracellular matrix to actin cytoskeleton in the cell cortex, thus regulating various physiological and pathological processes. Risuteganib (Luminate?) is a novel broad-spectrum integrin inhibitor. Based on multiple biological functions of anti-angiogenesis, vitreolysis, and neuroprotection, risuteganib is hopeful in treating several fundus diseases such as diabetic macular edema, vitreomacular traction, and non-exudative age-related macular degeneration. By far, risuteganib has successfully met the endpoints for three phase 2 studies and is preparing to enter the phase 3 of diabetic macular edema clinical trials. Overall the risuteganib is safe with no serious ocular or systemic adverse events. Given the unique mechanism of action and longer duration of efficacy, intravitreal injection of risuteganib has the potential to serve as a primary therapy, or adjunctive therapy to anti-VEGF agents.
Objective To observe the clinical characteristics of patients with macular branch retinal vein occlusion (MBRVO) and the changes of the area of foveal avascular zone (FAZ).Methods The data of 69 eyes of 69 patients with MBRVO, who had been diagnosed by ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp examination and fluoresce in angiography, were retrospectively studied. The relationship of locations between artery and vein on the obstructive site, and the characteristics of fundus pictures, retinal vasculature changes and the complications were analyzed. In 69 patients with MBRVO, 36 had the course of disease for more than 3-6 months, of whom the area of FAZ was compared with that of 30 healthy people.Results In 69 patients, superior MBRVO occurred in 45 eyes (65.22%), and inferior MBRVO occurred in 24 eyes (34.78%). Most of the arteries were anterior to the veins at the obstructive site. Four clinical types of MBRVO were found, and the main complication was macular edema. There was a significant difference in area of FAZ between patients with MBRVO and healthy people (P＜0.05). Conclusion There are several clinical characteristics of MBRVO with different manifestations. The area of FAZ of patients with MBRVO is obviously lager than that of the healthy people. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：269-332)
