Kimberly Baynes

Choroidal neovascularisation on optical coherence tomography angiography in punctate inner choroidopathy and multifocal choroiditis

Purpose To describe the findings seen on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) and multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis (MCP) complicated by choroidal neovascular membranes. Methods This was an Institutional Review Board-approved prospective, descriptive case series. 12 patients with PIC and MCP complicated by choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) were included. Each patient underwent slit-lamp examination by a uveitis specialist followed by conventional spectral domain OCT imaging of the macula. OCTA images of the macula were then obtained. Results 12 patients were enrolled in the study, out of which 9 patients were followed longitudinally. CNV was identified in 11 of the 12 patients. In all patients where fluorescein angiography (FA) was inconclusive for presence of CNV, OCTA identified CNV. Various lesions on OCT suggestive of activity correlated with changes in the vascular structure of OCTA to confirm suspicion of clinical activity. Conclusion In patients with PIC and MCP complicated by CNV, OCTA successfully identified underlying CNV. Given the difficulty of differentiating inflammatory lesions from early CNV on OCT and FA, OCTA may provide a valuable method of monitoring patients with posterior uveitis highly correlated with development of CNV.

Automated Analysis of Anterior Chamber Inflammation by Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

PURPOSE This study was designed to determine the feasibility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) to objectively image and quantify the degree of AC inflammation. DESIGN Prospective evaluation of a diagnostic test. PARTICIPANTS Patients with anterior segment involving uveitis. METHODS Observational case series of patients with uveitis. Single-line and 3-dimensional (3D) volume AS-OCT scans were manually graded to evaluate for the presence or absence of cells in the AC. Clinical grading scores were correlated to the number of cells seen in each line scan. An automated algorithm was developed to measure the number of cells seen in the 3D volume scan and compared with manual measurements and clinical grading scores. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Degree of anterior segment inflammation. RESULTS A total of 114 eyes from 76 patients were imaged, 83 eyes with line scans and 31 eyes with volume scans. The average number of cells on line scans was 0.13 for grade 0, 1.2 for grade 1/2+, 2.6 for grade 1+, 5.7 for grade 2+, 15.5 for grade 3+, and 41.2 for grade 4+. Spearman correlation coefficient comparing clinical grade with the individual AS-OCT line scans was 0.967 (P < 0.0001). The range of cells in the automated cell count of 3D volume scans was 13.60 to 1222; the range for manual cell counts was from 9.2 to 2245. The Spearman correlation coefficients were r = 0.7765 (P < 0.0001) and r = 0.7484 (P < 0.0001) comparing the manual and automated cell counts with the clinical grade, respectively. Spearman correlation coefficient comparing the automatic cell counts with manual cell count in the 3D volume scan was 0.997 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Anterior segment OCT can be used to image and grade the degree of AC inflammation. Clinical grading strongly correlates with the number of cells on AS-OCT line scans and volume scans. The automated algorithm to measure cell count had a high correlation to manual measurement of cells in the 3D volume scans. This modality could be used to objectively grade response to treatment.

The application of optical coherence tomography angiography in uveitis and inflammatory eye diseases

Since its introduction in the early 1990s, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has evolved in resolution and technological advances, and in recent years its initial application of assessing the morphology of a tissue has been implemented by the study of its functional blood flow, through optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). This novel technique details capillary networks by comparing the amount of light returned from static and moving targets without the need for intravenous dye administration. While this imaging modality has been used for various ocular conditions, the application OCTA to uveitis conditions remains sparse. This review aims to establish the basis of OCTA and its current application to ocular inflammatory disorders, with an emphasis on monitoring progression and response to treatment, as well as predicting visual complications. In particular, this review explores the use of OCTA in iris vessel dilation seen in various forms of iritis, as a predictive factor for further episodes of inflammation. OCTA can also depict ischemia in the deep plexus layers of the retina and identify true choroicapillaris ischemia in cases of placoid diseases or masking of the indocyanine green dye, as in multiple evanescent white dot syndrome. In addition, OCTA can depict neovascularization in granulomatous disease of the retina or choroid not previously depicted with previous imaging methods. While OCTA provides several advancements in the imaging, management and prognosis of uveitis diseases, we emphasize that further studies are required to fully understand its application to these conditions.

OCT Angiography Identification of Choroidal Neovascularization Secondary to Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy.

A 74-year-old female with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy presented with a new lesion suspicious for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in her right eye. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) confirmed the presence of CNV. OCTA is a new imaging technique that may help guide diagnosis and management of choroidal neovascular membranes in uveitic diseases.

A Focal Chorioretinal Bartonella Lesion Analyzed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Neovascularization may be associated with cat-scratch neuroretinitis in the absence of retinal vascular occlusion. Bartonella organisms establish an intimate relationship with the vascular endothelium, causing angioproliferative lesions, which might represent a dedicated pathogenic strategy for expanding the bacterial host cell habitat. In the eye, pathological angiogenesis caused by Bartonella has been described as peripapillary or macular choroidal neovascularization, but the presence of neovascularization within foci of chorioretinitis has never before been reported. The authors present a case of Bartonella chorioretinitis in which optical coherence tomography angiography, by detecting erythrocyte motion, was able to identify neovessels inside the infectious focus. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:585-588.].

Anterior segment spectral domain optical coherence tomography imaging of patients with anterior scleritis.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to describe the findings seen on anterior segment spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with anterior scleritis and determine the feasibility of using SD-OCT to image and grade the degree of scleral inflammation and monitor response to treatment. All patients underwent slit lamp examination by a uveitis specialist, and the degree of scleral inflammation was recorded. Spectral domain OCT imaging was then performed of the conjunctiva and scleral tissue using a standardized acquisition protocol. The scans were graded and compared to clinical findings. Twenty-eight patients with anterior scleritis and ten patients without ocular disease were included in the study. Seventeen of the scleritis patients were followed longitudinally. Common findings on SD-OCT in patients with active scleritis included changes in hyporeflectivity within the sclera, nodules, and visible vessels within the sclera. There was significant variation in findings on SD-OCT within each clinical grade of active scleritis. These changes on SD-OCT improved with treatment and clinical improvement. SD-OCT imaging provided various objective measures that could be used in the future to grade inflammatory activity in patients with anterior scleritis. Longitudinal imaging of patients with active scleritis demonstrated that SD-OCT may have great utility in monitoring response to treatment.

Treatment of Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy With Intravitreal Steroids

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To report on the use of intravitreal steroids in the management of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR), a rare disorder affecting the outer retina. PATIENTS AND METHODS Retrospective case series of nine eyes of five patients with AZOOR who received intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA), dexamethasone intravitreal implant, and/or fluocinolone acetonide implant. Treatment response was determined by reported symptoms and multimodal imaging findings. Patients were observed for at least 1 year following intravitreal steroid treatment (range: 14 months to 63 months). RESULTS Seven eyes received IVTA, six eyes received the dexamethasone intravitreal implant, and one eye received the fluocinolone acetonide implant. All patients experienced disease stability or improvement based on symptomatic response and multimodal imaging findings after intravitreal steroids. One eye developed central serous retinopathy, and another eye a choroidal neovascular membrane. Five of nine eyes experienced ocular hypertension. All phakic eyes developed cataracts. CONCLUSION Intravitreal steroids effectively achieved disease stability in patients with AZOOR. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:504-509.].

PERIPHERAL RETINOSCHISIS IN INTERMEDIATE UVEITIS

Purpose: To examine cases of intermediate uveitis complicated by retinoschisis and review the pathogenetic hypothesis. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with intermediate uveitis. Data were collected at three uveitis referral centers on sex, age, best-corrected visual acuity, degree of vitritis, extent and location of snowbanking, presence of hard exudates, neovascularization, vitreous hemorrhage, and extent and nature of retinal elevations. Results: A series of 23 eyes of 20 patients were examined; patients age ranged from 10 years to 70 years and follow-up period from 8 months to 6 years. Twenty-two eyes had retinoschisis (95.6%), and 1 had retinoschisis associated with serous retinal detachment (4.3%). Extensive inferior pars plana exudates with snowbanking were present in 12 eyes (52.2%), whereas 3 eyes had inferior snowballs over the elevated retina. Neovascularization of the vitreous base accompanied by vitreous hemorrhage occurred in one eye. There was no coexisting macular pathology in 16 eyes, whereas 4 eyes had cystoid macular edema. Conclusion: The appearance of peripheral retinoschisis in this series of uncontrolled intermediate uveitis patients seems to be secondary to a complex balance between the persistent fluorescein leakage, a subclinical peripheral ischemia, and the constant low-grade vitreous inflammation that causes vitreous shrinkage and traction. The results of this study suggest that the absence of macroscopic changes in the retina does not preclude ischemic peripheral abnormalities, and the detection of a peripheral retinoschisis in an intermediate uveitis patient with active fluorescein leakage must suggest the need for a more aggressive form of treatment despite the good visual acuity.

Retinal Vasculitis in Anti-Synthetase Syndrome.

A 31-year-old woman with a history of anti-synthetase syndrome-related myositis and interstitial lung disease presented with acute-onset blurry vision and rash on her hands and feet. Visual acuity was hand motion in her right eye and 20/40 in her left eye. Dilated fundus exam showed extensive retinal vasculitis, diffuse intraretinal hemorrhages, and subretinal fluid. Optical coherence tomography revealed significant macular thickening, and fluorescein angiography revealed vascular leakage with peripheral nonperfusion. Aggressive systemic immunosuppression was initiated, with gradual resolution of her disease during 8 months of follow-up. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:874-879.].

Sustained-release dexamethasone intravitreal implant in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-related uveitis

The purpose of this study is to review the results of treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis with the use of intravitreal dexamethasone implant. Sixteen eyes with Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis received intravitreal dexamethasone implant to treat recalcitrant anterior segment inflammation (43.7 %), chronic macular edema (6.2 %), or a combination of both (50 %). One month after injection, mean visual acuity had improvement to 39.6 ± 11 ETDRS letters (p < 0.001). Mean AC cells measure at 1 month was 0.79 and 0.75 at 3 months. One month after injection, there was a significant reduction of central retinal thickness (CRT) to 342.4 ± 79.3 µm (p < 0.01). One month after the second implant, 11 eyes (91.6 %) achieved improved activity of the anterior uveitis, and mean best-corrected visual acuity improved to 44.6 ± 8.1 ETDRS letters (p < 0.01). At 1 month after the second injection, 4/5 eyes had resolution of macular edema with CRT of 250.4 ± 13.7 µm (p < 0.01). Of the 16 eyes, 12 eyes received a second injection at mean of 7.5 ± 3.1 months after the first treatment, and 5 eyes received a third Ozurdex injection on average 7 ± 4.6 months after the second injection. Of the 16 eyes, five eyes were pseudophakic prior to injection. Of the remaining 11 eyes, 8 (73 %) developed worsening posterior subcapsular cataract at a mean of 7.3 ± 1.2 months after the first injection. After the first injection, only one eye required topical antiglaucoma therapy with maximum pressure of 25 mmHg. In patients with recalcitrant JIA-associated active uveitis, injection of sustained-release dexamethasone can achieve control of anterior inflammation and resolution of macular edema.