Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Cover Image for Volume 59, Issue 9
July 2018
Volume 59, Issue 9
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   July 2018
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in amyloid proven Alzheimer’s disease; a non-invasive biomarker?
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Jurre den Haan
    Alzheimer Center, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Aleid van de Kreeke
    Ophthalmology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Johannes de Boer
    Biolaserlab, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Femke Bouwman
    Alzheimer Center, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Frank D Verbraak
    Ophthalmology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Jurre den Haan, None; Aleid van de Kreeke, None; Johannes de Boer, None; Femke Bouwman, None; Frank Verbraak, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science July 2018, Vol.59, 724. doi:
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      Jurre den Haan, Aleid van de Kreeke, Johannes de Boer, Femke Bouwman, Frank D Verbraak; Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in amyloid proven Alzheimer’s disease; a non-invasive biomarker?. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2018;59(9):724.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Microvasculature plays an important role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology [ 1, 2]. As a protrusion from the brain, the retina might serve as a patient-friendly source of biomarkers for microvasculature. Previous research showed altered retinal vasculature parameters on fundus photography [3], choroidal thinning measured with EDI-OCT [4-8] and altered microvasculature on Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTa) [9, 10]. In this observational pilot we compared retinal microvasculature measured with OCTa in amyloid positive AD patients and controls.

Methods : We included 11 early onset AD (EOAD) patients, 5 late onset AD (LOAD) patients and 25 controls from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)≥17). All patients met NIA-AA criteria and were amyloid positive in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and/or on amyloid-PET. Controls were cognitively normal, amyloid negative subjects. All subjects underwent a complete neurological and ophthalmological examination including MRI and OCTa (Zeiss Cirrus AngioPlex). With OCTa we measured macular vessel density, perfusion and foveal avascular zone (FAZ). Patients with glaucoma were excluded.

Results : LOAD patients had significantly lower macular vessel density and perfusion in the inner ring, compared to EOAD patients and controls (table 1). Macular vessel density, perfusion and avascular zone did not significantly differ between EOAD patients and controls. Age was not correlated with inner ring vessel density and perfusion in the cohort, when LOAD patients were excluded (n=36, linear regression B= -.-048, p=.283 and B=-.001 p=.412 respectively). OCTa measures did not correlate with MMSE or CSF amyloid or tau.

Conclusions : Macular vessel density and perfusion in the inner ring measured with OCTa were lower in LOAD-patients compared to EOAD patients and controls, however age might be a confounding factor. Larger cohorts of patients are needed to assess the role of OCTa as a biomarker for vascular changes in AD, the role of age and differences between EOAD and LOAD.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.

 

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