PERIPHERAL RETINAL ANGIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN MACULAR TELANGIECTASIS TYPE 2

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Vascular Diseases
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Idiopathic juxtafoveal telangiectasis, also known as macular telangiectasis Type 2 (MacTel2), is a retinal vascular disorder.
• Understanding the full spectrum of vascular changes in MacTel2, including the retinal periphery, is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the peripheral retinal vasculature in patients with MacTel2 and age-matched controls.
• Utilize widefield fluorescein angiography to assess peripheral capillary nonperfusion, dropout, and other vascular anomalies.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, observational case series involving 50 eyes of 50 patients diagnosed with MacTel2.
• Comparison with 50 eyes from 50 age-matched healthy controls.
• Analysis of widefield fluorescein angiograms for specific vascular features such as nonperfusion, microaneurysms, and shunts.

Main Results:

• Peripheral capillary nonperfusion or dropout occurred in 74% of both MacTel2 and control eyes.
• The MacTel2 group showed a trend towards a higher proportion of pruning-type capillary dropout, though not statistically significant.
• Patients with MacTel2 had a significantly higher incidence of microaneurysms (56%) compared to controls (42%), independent of age or systemic factors.

Conclusions:

• Widefield fluorescein angiography reveals a high incidence of peripheral vascular and retinal findings in both MacTel2 patients and controls.
• MacTel2 is associated with a significantly greater number of microaneurysms, irrespective of age or other systemic risk factors.