Vitreomacular traction, macular hole formation, and subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in a patient with age-related macular degeneration

Vitrectomy in full thickness macular holes on top of a pigment epithelial detachment in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Surgical consideration and review of the literature

PURPOSE

To present the surgical treatment of a full thickness macular hole (MH) caused by a vitreomacular traction (VMT) on top of an adjacent subfoveal pigment epithelial detachment (PED) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

OBSERVATION

A 77-year-old female with a subfoveal PED receiving consecutive intravitreal injections noticed a sudden decreased visual acuity (VA) due to the development an occult MH in her right eye after 19 repeated intravitreal anti vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-injections. Her initial VA declined from 20/50 to 20/400. The firm VMT induced a rupture of the multi-layered retina and may progress to an RPE-tear or possible to a subretinal haemorrhage. We discussed with the patient the risks of the natural progression and explained possible treatment options: We continued her anti-VEGF combined with air bubble injections to induce a posterior vitreous detachment, to stabilise the retinal architecture, reduce the subretinal fluid and avoid possible intraoperative bleeding. As injections did release the VMT, vitrectomy released the posterior vitreous from the optic nerve and trimmed it towards the central retina. Peeling with brilliant blue removed the internal limiting membrane without any signs of bleeding, rupture of the PED or enlargement of the MH, prior to the installation of 10% SF6 gas. The postoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) on day 5 confirmed a closed MH, while the size, shape and pattern of the PED remained unchanged. Her VA increased from 20/400 to 20/50 (equal to her previous VA prior to the MH-formation). To avoid a potential progression of the PED, we maintained her retreatment intervals at 5 weeks for the next 6 months. A literature review presents similar intraoperative approaches and postoperative outcomes in 8 out of the 9 published cases.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE

VMT can induce an occult MH on top of a PED, causing a significant loss of vision. When gas injections are not successful, surgery may release the traction, restore the retinal architecture, and significantly improve and maintain the VA over a documented long-term observation. The epiretinal procedure should be assisted under regular anti-VEGF injections to maintain the subretinal architecture.

ATYPICAL MACULAR HOLES

PURPOSE

To study the etiology, clinical features, management options, and visual prognosis in various types of atypical macular holes (MHs).

METHODS

A review of the literature was performed, which focused on the etiopathogenesis of atypical or secondary MHs, their differentiating clinical features, management strategies, and varied clinical outcomes. Idiopathic or age-related, myopic, and traumatic MHs were excluded.

RESULTS

Atypical or secondary MHs arise out of concurrent ocular pathologies (dystrophy, degeneration, or infections) and laser/surgery. The contributing factors may be similar to those responsible for idiopathic or typical MHs, i.e., tangential or anteroposterior vitreofoveal traction or cystoid degeneration. The management is either observation or treatment of the underlying cause. The prognosis depends on the background pathology, duration of disease, and baseline visual acuity governed by the size of MH and morphologic health of underlying RPE and photoreceptors. The closer the morphology of atypical MH is to that of an idiopathic MH, the better the surgical outcome is.

CONCLUSION

With the advancements in retinal imaging, atypical MHs are now more frequently recognized. With increasing understanding of the underlying disease processes, and improvement in investigations and surgical treatment, management of atypical MHs may improve in the future.

Influence of ranibizumab treatment on the extracellular matrix in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

BACKGROUND

We know the influence of the intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections on the choroidal neovascularization in the course of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the influence of the ranibizumab therapy in question on the extracellular matrix (ECM) remains unknown. We aimed to estimate the influence of Lucentis intravitreal injections on the gene expression of structural components of the extracellular matrix in patients with neovascular AMD.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with subfoveal localization of neovascularization in AMD, which was clinically active and observed using optical coherence tomography, were treated with ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) in accordance with the PrONTO scheme. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and an oligonucleotide microarray technique enabled comparison of the expression level of genes encoding collagens, elastin, and laminins in AMD patients compared to control subjects.

RESULTS

After 3 intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (Lucentis), COL1A1 and COL6A1 genes showed increased expression, whereas decreased expression mainly occurred for the following genes: COL4A5, COL11A1, OL4A6C, LAMB4, and LAMC2.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-VEGF local therapy influences the gene expression of structural components of the ECM as measured from blood samples. The loading dose of ranibizumab for the retina changes the expression of collagen and laminin genes, but does not influence the expression of the elastin gene.

Vitrectomy for exudative age-related macular degeneration with vitreous hemorrhage

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to study the effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for age-related macular degeneration with vitreous hemorrhage on choroidal neo-vascularization (CNV).

METHODS

A retrospective interventional case series in which 92 eyes with age-related macular degeneration with vitreous hemorrhage that received PPV were studied. Among them, 60 eyes without pre- or posttreatment other than PPV were selected. Choroidal neovascularization was expressed as the incidence of bleeding 6 months before and after PPV. The status of CNV after PPV was compared and classified as worsened, remained, regressed, disappeared, or unclassified. The influence of posterior vitreous detachment was examined.

RESULTS

The incidence of bleeding was reduced dramatically after PPV (1.11 +/- 0.44 in preoperative 6 months vs. 0.03 +/- 0.18 in postoperative 6 months, P < 0.0001). The status of CNV improved in most cases; 40 of 54 classifiable eyes (74.1%) were categorized as "regressed" or "disappeared." Postoperative visual acuity was significantly better than preoperative visual acuity (P < 0.0001). The status of CNV subsided more in those eyes without posterior vitreous detachment than in those with posterior vitreous detachment (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, -0.01-2.08; P = 0.054).

CONCLUSION

The activity of CNV was reduced after PPV in eyes with age-related macular degeneration with vitreous hemorrhage. Visual acuity significantly improved, with only rare severe complications. The involvement of vitreomacular traction in the patho-physiology of CNV in age-related macular degeneration is possible.