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Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence for the Evaluation of Retinal Diseases
Published on: March 11, 2016
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A Novel Method for Quantitative Serial Autofluorescence Analysis in Retinitis Pigmentosa Using Image Characteristics
Jasleen K Jolly1, Siegfried K Wagner1, Jonathan Moules2
1Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK ; Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK ; Moorfields Eye Hospital-UCL Institute of Ophthalmology NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK.
Translational Vision Science & Technology
|December 10, 2016
Summary
A new autofluorescence imaging technique accurately maps retinal changes in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients. This method shows potential as a biomarker for disease progression and treatment efficacy in RP.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal diseases causing progressive vision loss.
- Developing reliable biomarkers is crucial for evaluating new RP treatments like gene therapy.
- Autofluorescence (AF) imaging is a non-invasive technique to assess retinal health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate a novel technique for analyzing short-wavelength autofluorescence (AF) imaging.
- To quantify specific AF patterns, such as the hyperfluorescent annulus, in RP patients.
- To assess the potential of these AF patterns as biomarkers for RP progression.
Main Methods:
- Acquired 55-degree AF images from 12 RP participants over 12 months.
- Developed spatial extraction software to map parafoveal AF rings using percentiles of fluorescence.
- Measured the distance from the fovea to the AF ring and quantified areas of atrophy.
Main Results:
- The hyperfluorescent ring was best mapped using the 70th percentile of fluorescence.
- Both the AF ring and peripheral hypofluorescence demonstrated high repeatability (P=0.93) over 12 months.
- Retinal pigment epithelium atrophy was also consistently mapped.
Conclusions:
- A hypofluorescent ring and RPE atrophy are common in RP patients and can be reliably mapped over time.
- This AF imaging analysis technique shows promise as an anatomical biomarker for RP.
- The methodology may be adaptable for wide-field imaging and other retinal dystrophies.
