Retinal Vessels Whitening in Retinitis Pigmentosa

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Imaging
• Genetics

Background:

• Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited disorders characterized by progressive vision loss.
• Retinal vessel whitening (RVW) is a potential indicator of retinal disease, but its role in RP is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the prevalence and patterns of retinal vessel whitening (RVW) in patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).
• To investigate the association between RVW and structural changes in the macula in RP patients.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving the review of clinical notes and ultra-widefield imaging from 116 Retinitis Pigmentosa patients.
• Data collected included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), presence, absence, and location of RVW, and retinal thickness measurements.

Main Results:

• Retinal vessel whitening (RVW) was observed in 38% of the 116 analyzed RP patients, predominantly in the inferotemporal quadrant.
• Eyes with RVW exhibited significantly reduced total retinal thickness (mean difference of 151.7 µm) in the ETDRS area.
• Both inner and outer retinal layers were thinner in the RVW group, with a correlation between the number of affected quadrants and retinal thinning.

Conclusions:

• Retinal vessel whitening (RVW) is a common finding in Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and should be considered a phenotypic feature.
• RVW is associated with central macular structural changes, suggesting its utility as a marker for retinal disease severity in RP.