Hemodynamic parameter estimation from ocular fluorescein angiograms

Assessment of Choroidal Neovascularization Perfusion: A Pilot Study With Laser Speckle Flowgraphy

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to quantify perfusion in the area of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) using laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) before and after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection.

Methods

Retrospective case series. Fifteen eyes of 15 patients with treatment-naïve CNV due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and with available LSFG images were included. The main outcome was the mean blur rate (MBR) quantified as a measure of perfusion within the CNV area observed on indocyanine green angiography. Twelve patients had available longitudinal data until one month after the injection, used to evaluate changes in perfusion, central macular thickness (CMT), visual acuity, and ocular perfusion pressure. Reproducibility of LSFG measurements was investigated at each time point from two images taken within five minutes.

Results

Intraclass correlation coefficients for LSFG measurements were higher than 0.8 indicating excellent reproducibility. There was a significant decrease in perfusion after one week (-26.4 ± 14.4%; P = 0.027), whereas, after one month, perfusion was no longer significantly different from baseline (P = 0.121). CMT showed a progressive decrease over the follow-up period. Changes in perfusion were strongly correlated with changes in CMT after one week, but not thereafter.

Conclusions

This pilot study suggests a method to select a region in the CNV area to quantify perfusion using LSFG. MBR could represent a parameter possibly related to regrowth of the CNV after anti-VEGF treatment. Large-scale studies are needed to assess the usefulness of LSFG in defining re-treatment criteria for neovascular AMD.

Translational Relevance

LSFG technology to quantify perfusion could provide useful biomarkers for therapeutic management of CNV.

Microvascular contributions to age-related macular degeneration (AMD): from mechanisms of choriocapillaris aging to novel interventions

Aging of the microcirculatory network plays a central role in the pathogenesis of a wide range of age-related diseases, from heart failure to Alzheimer's disease. In the eye, changes in the choroid and choroidal microcirculation (choriocapillaris) also occur with age, and these changes can play a critical role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In order to develop novel treatments for amelioration of choriocapillaris aging and prevention of AMD, it is essential to understand the cellular and functional changes that occur in the choroid and choriocapillaris during aging. In this review, recent advances in in vivo analysis of choroidal structure and function in AMD patients and patients at risk for AMD are discussed. The pathophysiological roles of fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired resistance to molecular stressors in the choriocapillaris are also considered in terms of their contribution to the pathogenesis of AMD. The pathogenic roles of cardiovascular risk factors that exacerbate microvascular aging processes, such as smoking, hypertension, and obesity as they relate to AMD and choroid and choriocapillaris changes in patients with these cardiovascular risk factors, are also discussed. Finally, future directions and opportunities to develop novel interventions to prevent/delay AMD by targeting fundamental cellular and molecular aging processes are presented.

Assessment of choroidal blood flow using laser speckle flowgraphy

Background/aims

There is considerable interest in novel techniques to quantify choroidal blood flow (CBF) in humans. In the present study, we investigated a novel technique to measure CBF based on laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) in healthy subjects.

Methods

This study included 31 eyes of 31 healthy, non-smoking subjects aged between 19 and 74 years. A commercial LSFG instrument was used to measure choroidal vessel diameter (CVD) and relative flow volume (RFV) in choroidal vessels that were identified on fundus photos, an approach that was used previously only for retinal vessels. The reproducibility and the effect of isometric exercise on these parameters were investigated. The latter was compared with measurement of subfoveal CBF using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF).

Results

Intraclass correlation coefficients for CVD and RFV were higher than 0.8 indicating excellent reproducibility. During isometric exercise, we observed an increase in ocular perfusion pressure of approximately 60% (P<0.001). The increase in RFV and CBF was lower, but also highly significant versus baseline (at minute 6 of isometric exercise: RFV 10.5%±4.2%, CBF 8.3%±3.6%; P<0.001 each) indicating choroidal autoregulation.

Conclusion

LSFG may be a novel approach to study blood flow in choroidal vessels. Data are reproducible and show good agreement with LDF data.

Trial registration number

NCT02102880, Results.

Segmentation of choroidal neovascularization in fundus fluorescein angiograms

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a common manifestation of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the choroidal layer causing blurring and deterioration of the vision. In late stages, these abnormal vessels can rupture the retinal layers causing complete loss of vision at the affected regions. Determining the CNV size and type in fluorescein angiograms is required for proper treatment and prognosis of the disease. Computer-aided methods for CNV segmentation is needed not only to reduce the burden of manual segmentation but also to reduce inter- and intraobserver variability. In this paper, we present a framework for segmenting CNV lesions based on parametric modeling of the intensity variation in fundus fluorescein angiograms. First, a novel model is proposed to describe the temporal intensity variation at each pixel in image sequences acquired by fluorescein angiography. The set of model parameters at each pixel are used to segment the image into regions of homogeneous parameters. Preliminary results on datasets from 21 patients with Wet-AMD show the potential of the method to segment CNV lesions in close agreement with the manual segmentation.

Choroidal dye filling velocity in patients with Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease

PURPOSE

To evaluate quantitative choroidal dye filling velocity in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) before and after corticosteroid treatment using indocyanine green (ICG) angiography.

METHODS

ICG angiography was performed in seven VKH patients before and after systemic corticosteroid treatment. Choroidal dye curves were obtained by image analysis software and analyzed using an exponential model. The model's time constant (tau) was used to evaluate choroidal dye filling velocity.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, acute phase choroidal tau values in VKH patients were significantly longer, suggesting choroidal circulation disturbance. During the recovery phase, choroidal tau values were significantly shortened, suggesting choroidal circulatory disturbance improvement.

CONCLUSION

Choroidal dye filling velocity may be useful for VKH diagnosis and verification of corticosteroid treatment effectiveness.

Volumetric colour Doppler imaging: a useful tool for the determination of ocular blood flow in glaucoma patients?

PURPOSE

Disturbed ocular haemodynamics are discussed to contribute to the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Up to now there is no method available allowing direct determination of blood flow, which is the most relevant dimension for studies on haemodynamics. In this study, volumetric colour Doppler imaging (vCDI) is evaluated systematically in glaucoma patients.

METHODS

A Siemens Elegra ultrasound set-up with a linear 7.5 MHz probe was used for all CDI measurements. For vCDI, the cross-sectional area of a vessel and the flow velocity is determined. From both these parameters blood flow can be calculated. Ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) was assessed by the method of Langham using a pneumatic applanation tonometer.

RESULTS

(1) Velocity measurements using CDI in the ophthalmic artery and central retinal artery were highly reproducible (n=20). In contrast, reproducibility of vCDI measurements was low (n=20). Reproducibility improved if five vCDI measures were averaged. (2) Results from two different CDI-operators did not differ regarding the velocity measurements, but there was a difference in vCDI measurements (n=20). (3) Results from vCDI did not correlate with measurements of OPA in 69 patients. (4) In 15 patients, vCDI failed to detect changes of ocular perfusion induced by the application of dorzolamide.

CONCLUSION

vCDI is not applicable in ophthalmology at present.

Choroidal haemodynamics in glaucoma

AIM

Quantification of haemodynamics of the peripapillary choroid in and the assessment of possible differences between normal subjects (N), ocular hypertensive (OHT), primary open angle (POAG), and normal pressure glaucoma (NPG) patients.

METHODS

Video fluorescein angiograms (Rodenstock SLO 101) were made in 22 N subjects, 12 OHT, 48 POAG, and 46 NPG patients. The angiographically derived dye build up curves were described by means of an exponential model. One of the model parameters is the time constant tau theoretically reflecting local blood refreshment time; the blood refreshment time tau is the time needed to replace the blood volume in the choriocapillaris, inversely proportional to the local choroidal blood flow. Other variables are maximal fluorescence (Fdt) and time of first fluorescence (t0). Mean variable values were calculated for disc area and circular areas around the disc.

RESULTS

Fdt of the disc was significantly lower in the POAG and NPG patients. There was no statistical difference in t0 between the study groups. The choroidal blood refreshment time was significantly longer in NPG patients and to a lesser extent in the POAG patients compared with the normal controls. The slowest choroidal blood refreshment can be found in the NPG group. The median choroidal blood refreshment times (25th-75th percentile) in the controls, OHT, POAG, and NPG patients were 4.1 (3.7-4.5), 4.4 (3.7-6.4), 5.8 (4.3-6.8), and 7.1 (5.5-9.3) seconds respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

With the help of parametrisation of dye curves, using a one compartmental model, choroidal haemodynamics can be quantified. The blood refreshment time of the peripapillary choriocapillaris was found to be significantly prolonged especially in NPG patients; this may indicate slower choroidal haemodynamics in NPG patients.

A comparison of retinal and choroidal hemodynamics in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and normal-pressure glaucoma

PURPOSE

To quantify, compare, and assess differences between retinal and choroidal hemodynamics in normal control subjects and patients with ocular hypertension, primary open-angle glaucoma, and normal-pressure glaucoma.

METHODS

Video fluorescein angiograms were made in 20 normal subjects, 11 patients with ocular hypertension, 45 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, and 43 patients with normal-pressure glaucoma. Choroidal dye build-up curves were analyzed using an exponential model. The model time constant tau reflected the local blood refreshment time, the time needed to replace the blood volume in a tissue volume. Retinal arteriovenous passage time was estimated from the time lapse between retinal arterial and venous dye curves.

RESULTS

The retinal arteriovenous passage time was longer in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma compared with normal subjects and patients with normal-pressure glaucoma; the average arteriovenous passage times (+/-SEM) in normal subjects and in patients with ocular hypertension, primary open-angle glaucoma, and normal-pressure glaucoma were, respectively, 2.44 +/- 0.19, 2.90 +/- 0.37, 3.02 +/- 0.17, and 2.55 +/- 0.15 seconds. Choroidal tau was longest in the normal-pressure glaucoma group but not as long in the primary open-angle glaucoma group; tau values in normal subjects and patients with ocular hypertension, primary open-angle glaucoma, and normal-pressure glaucoma were, respectively, 4.6 +/- 0.29, 5.6 +/- 0.69, 6.2 +/- 0.39, and 7.1 +/- 0.33 seconds.

CONCLUSIONS

Whereas choroidal circulation is especially slower in patients with normal-pressure glaucoma, retinal circulation is delayed in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. The choroidal and retinal vascular systems behave differently in primary open-angle and normal-pressure glaucoma, which may be important in the management of glaucoma.

Evaluation of the peripapillary circulation in healthy and glaucoma eyes with scanning laser Doppler flowmetry

In order to study peripapillary perfusion, one randomly selected eye of 34 of healthy volunteers and 40 glaucoma patients (27 suffering from primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) 10 from normal pressure glaucoma (NPG) nd three from other types of glaucoma) was studied with a Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter. Temporal flow adjacent to the disc edge was significantly higher than the nasal flow (p < 0.01). It was reduced significantly in myopia both in controls (p < 0.05) and in glaucoma patients (p < 0.001). However, there was no difference between either controls and glaucoma patients or between POAG and NPG patients. It was independent of treatment type in glaucoma. Within the temporal peripapillary area extremely high flow values (values higher than the mean + 2 SD of the corresponding individual retinal flow) seemed to represent deep peripapillary vascular rings. They were significantly more frequent in glaucoma (72%) than in healthy volunteers (44%, p < 0.05). Their frequency was 83% in myopic and 23% in non-myopic eyes in the control group (p < 0.001). However, in glaucoma patients they were common both in myopic eyes (71%) and in non-myopic ones (75%). The results suggest that capillary perfusion adjacent to the temporal edge of the disc is significantly reduced in myopia. Deep peripapillary vascular structures can be measured on images focused on the surface of the retina, especially if the retina is thinner than normal (healthy myopic eyes and glaucomatous eyes independently of the refraction). This may mask a deficient function of the retinal capillary bed.