Abstract
Purpose :
To study the relationship between retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) damage assessed by fundus autofluorescence (FAF) findings and genetic factors in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).
Methods :
This study included 51 eyes of 51 patients who performed photodynamic therapy for CSC at Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital. In each case, CFH rs800292 (CFH), ARMS2 rs10490924 (ARMS2), and SLC7A5 rs11865049 (LAT1) were genotyped. FAF images before treatment were binarized (Phansalkar method) by image J, and the area of black ("FAF black") was measured in a 3 mm x 3 mm area including the macular. Corrected visual acuity, central retinal thickness, central choroidal thickness, and genetic factors were examined before and 3 months after treatment. Genetic factors were analyzed in two groups: those with risk alleles and those without risk alleles.
Results :
Genetic variants included CFH (13 in the GG group, 38 in the GA+AA group), ARMS2 (26 in the GG group, 25 in the GT+TT group), and LAT1 (37 in the GG group, 14 in the GA+AA group). The larger the "FAF black", the significantly worse the visual acuity after treatment and the relatively thicker the post-treatment choroid (p=0.012, p=0.055)." FAF black" was significantly greater in the GG group of CFH (p=0.013), and "FAF black" was greater in the GA+AA group of LAT1 (p=0.013). There was no significant difference between groups in ARMS2 (p=0.51).
Conclusions :
RPE damage evaluated by FAF may be associated with visual acuity and choroidal thickness after PDT. In addition, RPE damage and some genetic factors were correlated, which suggested that genetic factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of CSC.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.