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[Relationship between structural and functional changes in retina in Stargardt disease]
N L Sheremet1, I A Ronzina1, N V Zhorzholadze1
1Research Institute of Eye Diseases, 11 A, B, Rossolimo St., Moscow, Russian Federation, 119021.
Vestnik Oftalmologii
|July 27, 2016
Summary
Structural damage to the photoreceptor inner and outer segments (IS/OS junction) in Stargardt disease correlates with visual function decline. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) reveals this link, impacting electroretinography (ERG) and perimetry results.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Stargardt disease is a leading inherited macular dystrophy.
- The inner and outer segments (IS/OS) junction of photoreceptors is crucial for retinal function.
- Assessing IS/OS junction integrity is vital for understanding disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between structural integrity of the IS/OS junction and visual functional parameters in Stargardt disease.
- To evaluate the utility of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in quantifying IS/OS junction abnormalities.
- To determine the relationship between OCT findings and electrophysiological and perimetric data.
Main Methods:
- 45 patients (90 eyes) with Stargardt disease underwent comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation.
- Methods included color vision testing, static perimetry, ganzfeld (gERG) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG), autofluorescence, and OCT.
- Patients were stratified into three groups based on OCT-identified IS/OS junction integrity.
Main Results:
- A strong correlation was observed between the degree of IS/OS junction damage on OCT and the mean deviation (MD) index from perimetry.
- No significant differences in retinal thickness or volume were found across the groups.
- All patient groups exhibited reduced gERG wave amplitudes and varying degrees of mfERG abnormalities, characterized by decreased retinal biopotential amplitude and density.
Conclusions:
- Structural damage to the IS/OS junction, as visualized by OCT, is directly associated with impaired visual function.
- OCT findings correlate significantly with visual field defects and electrophysiological disturbances measured by perimetry and ERG.
- The study highlights the IS/OS junction's structural integrity as a key indicator of visual function in Stargardt disease.
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