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OCTA-Based Identification of Different Vascular Patterns in Stargardt Disease
Alessandro Arrigo1, Francesco Romano1,2, Emanuela Aragona1
1Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, University Vita-Salute, Milan, Italy.
Translational Vision Science & Technology
|December 14, 2019
Summary
Quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) identified distinct Stargardt disease (STGD) subgroups based on vessel tortuosity. This OCTA-based classification reveals differing morphofunctional phenotypes, aiding clinical and research applications.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Genetics
Background:
- Stargardt disease (STGD) is a common inherited macular dystrophy.
- Current diagnostic methods may not fully capture the spectrum of STGD phenotypes.
- Quantitative imaging analysis offers potential for refined disease subtyping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze quantitative optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) parameters.
- To identify clinically relevant cutoff values for differentiating STGD subgroups.
- To establish objective criteria for STGD classification.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of consecutive STGD patients and healthy controls.
- Multimodal ophthalmologic examination including structural OCT and OCTA.
- Statistical analysis of quantitative parameters: retinal thickness, hyperreflective foci, vessel density, and tortuosity.
Main Results:
- All quantitative parameters were significantly worse in STGD patients compared to controls (P < 0.01).
- A vessel tortuosity cutoff of 5 distinguished two STGD subgroups with significant differences in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).
- Structural OCT and OCTA parameters differed significantly between the identified STGD subgroups.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative OCTA successfully identified distinct morphofunctional STGD phenotypes.
- OCTA-based classification of STGD patients revealed subgroups with differing morphology and function.
- This classification has potential impact on clinical management and research settings.
