Temporal Retinal Vessel Angle as a Biomarker for Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy

This study aims to investigate temporal retinal vessel angles (TVA) measured from colour fundus photographs as a biomarker for assessing clinical outcomes in familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR). The primary objectives were to establish correlations between TVA and key clinical parameters, evaluate the predictive power of TVA for poor visual acuity and foveal hypoplasia, and determine optimal threshold angles for risk stratification.

This retrospective case series included 65 patients (117 eyes) at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. Ophthalmic examinations, imaging, and TVA measurements were conducted. Statistical analyses included correlation coefficients, logistic regressions, and receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curves.

TVA exhibited negative correlations with key clinical outcomes including best-corrected visual acuity. Logistic regression analysis revealed associations between narrower TVA and key outcomes such as poor best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and foveal hypoplasia. ROC curves demonstrated area-under-curve (AUC) values for predicting poor BCVA (0.80, 0.86) and foveal hypoplasia (0.83, 0.82) for temporal retinal artery and vein angle (TRAA and TRVA), respectively. Optimal thresholds were determined (TRAA: 65.02˚, TRVA: 72.87˚).

TVAs emerged as sensitive predictors of FEVR outcomes, showcasing robust correlations with disease severity and functional outcomes. It highlights TVA as a potential non-invasive biomarker for prognosis in FEVR, aiding in early detection and facilitating timely interventions. Future research with larger cohorts and longitudinal follow-up is warranted to validate the utility of TVA in clinical practice.