Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the potential benefit of wide-field autofluorescence images for analysis of the disease activity in eyes with choriocapillaropathies.
Methods :
22 eyes of 22 White Dot Syndrome Patients (MEWDS, PIC, APMPPE, MCP) have been investigated by green light fundus autofluorescence (CLARUS 700, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, California, USA). 16 patients revealed an active disease state whereas 6 eyes were lacking activity signs, serving as a control group.
A grid was applied to each image dividing the fundus into a <30°, 30-50° and > 50° section. The images have been analyzed for the presence of spotted hyperreflectivity and hyperreflective rims of hyporeflective lesions in each of the three sections as signs for disease activity.
Results :
Hyper-autofluorescent spots were seen in 9 of 16 patients and were absent in all 6 inactive patients. In 8 cases spotted hyperreflectivity was seen in the periphery (p=0,03), 7 cases revealed this sign in the 30-50° section (p=0,05) and only 5 eyes showed hyperreflective spots in the central section <30° (p=0,12).
Hyperreflective rims of hyporeflective lesions have been detected in 12 of 16 active patients and in 1 eye of the control group. Hyperreflective rims have primarily been seen in <30° (8/16, p=0,03) and 30-50° (9/16, p=0,017) sections, only 6 of 16 patients (p=0,35) showed this sign in the periphery.
Conclusions :
Wide-field fundus autofluorescence is an important tool especially for the assessment of spotted hyperreflectivity as a sign of white dot syndrom disease activity. Further studies are ongoing to specify the diagnostic utility depending on the different autofluorescent signs and the underlying choriocapillaropathy.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.