TY - JOUR
T1 - Color fundus autofluorescence to determine activity of macular neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration
AU - Vujosevic, Stela
AU - Toma, Caterina
AU - Sarao, Valentina
AU - Veritti, Daniele
AU - Brambilla, Marco
AU - Muraca, Andrea
AU - De Cillà, Stefano
AU - Villani, Edoardo
AU - Nucci, Paolo
AU - Lanzetta, Paolo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Purpose: To evaluate with color fundus autofluorescence (FAF) different lesion components of macular neovascularization (MNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to assess its activity. Methods: In total, 137 eyes (102 patients) with MNV underwent a complete eye exami-nation, including color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography, and confocal color FAF, with an excitation wavelength at 450 nm. Each image was imported into a custom-image analysis software for quantitative estimation of emission wavelength and green and red emission fluorescence (GEFC/REFC) inten-sity, considering both single components of neovascular AMD and different MNV types (type 1 and type 2 MNV, active and inactive MNV). Results: Subretinal fluid (SRF) had significantly higher values of GEFC (P = 0.008 and P = 0.0004) and REFC intensity (P = 0.005 and P = 0.0003) versus fibrosis and atrophy. The emission wavelength from SRF was lower compared to atrophy (P = 0.024) but not to fibrosis (P = 0.46). No significant differences were detected between type 1 and 2 MNV. Considering active versus inactive MNVs, a difference was detected for all evaluated parameters (P < 0.001). Mean FAF wavelength of both MNV with SRF and intrareti-nal fluid (IRF) was lower versus inactive MNV (P < 0.001 and P = 0.005). MNV with SRF (P < 0.001) had higher values of GEFC and REFC versus inactive MNV (P < 0.001). MNV with IRF had higher values of GEFC versus inactive MNV (P = 0.05). Conclusions: Quantitative color FAF can differentiate active versus inactive MNV, whereas no differences were found between type 1 and type 2 MNV. If these data can be further confirmed, color FAF may be useful for automatic detection of active MNV in AMD and as a guide for treatment. Translational Relevance: Automatic quantitative evaluation of green and red emission components of FAF in AMD can help determine the activity of MNV and guide the treatment.
AB - Purpose: To evaluate with color fundus autofluorescence (FAF) different lesion components of macular neovascularization (MNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to assess its activity. Methods: In total, 137 eyes (102 patients) with MNV underwent a complete eye exami-nation, including color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography, and confocal color FAF, with an excitation wavelength at 450 nm. Each image was imported into a custom-image analysis software for quantitative estimation of emission wavelength and green and red emission fluorescence (GEFC/REFC) inten-sity, considering both single components of neovascular AMD and different MNV types (type 1 and type 2 MNV, active and inactive MNV). Results: Subretinal fluid (SRF) had significantly higher values of GEFC (P = 0.008 and P = 0.0004) and REFC intensity (P = 0.005 and P = 0.0003) versus fibrosis and atrophy. The emission wavelength from SRF was lower compared to atrophy (P = 0.024) but not to fibrosis (P = 0.46). No significant differences were detected between type 1 and 2 MNV. Considering active versus inactive MNVs, a difference was detected for all evaluated parameters (P < 0.001). Mean FAF wavelength of both MNV with SRF and intrareti-nal fluid (IRF) was lower versus inactive MNV (P < 0.001 and P = 0.005). MNV with SRF (P < 0.001) had higher values of GEFC and REFC versus inactive MNV (P < 0.001). MNV with IRF had higher values of GEFC versus inactive MNV (P = 0.05). Conclusions: Quantitative color FAF can differentiate active versus inactive MNV, whereas no differences were found between type 1 and type 2 MNV. If these data can be further confirmed, color FAF may be useful for automatic detection of active MNV in AMD and as a guide for treatment. Translational Relevance: Automatic quantitative evaluation of green and red emission components of FAF in AMD can help determine the activity of MNV and guide the treatment.
KW - Age-related macular degeneration
KW - Color fundus autofluorescence
KW - Disease activity
KW - Fluorophores
KW - Macular neovascularization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102471877&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1167/tvst.10.2.33
DO - 10.1167/tvst.10.2.33
M3 - Article
SN - 2164-2591
VL - 10
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - Translational Vision Science and Technology
JF - Translational Vision Science and Technology
IS - 2
M1 - 33
ER -