Retrospective Analysis of Structural Disease Progression in Retinitis Pigmentosa Utilizing Multimodal Imaging

Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 4;7(1):10347. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-10473-0.

Abstract

In this report, we assess the natural progression rate of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) over an average of three years using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and short wavelength fundus autofluorescence (SW-AF). Measurement of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) line width and hyperautofluorescent ring diameters was performed in 81 patients with RP in a retrospective, longitudinal fashion. Rate of structural disease progression, symmetry between eyes, and test-retest variability were quantified. We observed on average, EZ-line widths decreased by 140 µm (5.2%, p < 0.001) per year, and average horizontal and vertical hyperautofluorescent ring diameters decreased by 149 µm (3.6%, p < 0.001) and 120 µm (3.9%, p < 0.001) per year, respectively. The 95th percentile of this cohort had differences in progression slopes between eyes that were less than 154 µm, 118 µm, and 132 µm for EZ-line width and horizontal and vertical ring diameters, respectively. For all measures except horizontal ring diameter, progression rates were significantly slower at end-stage disease. From our data, we observed a statistically significant progression rate in EZ line width and SW-AF ring diameters over time, verifying the utility of these measurements for disease monitoring purposes. Additionally, calculated differences in progression slopes between eyes may prove useful for investigators evaluating the efficacy of unilateral treatments for RP in clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers
  • Disease Progression
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Multimodal Imaging* / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retina / diagnostic imaging
  • Retina / metabolism
  • Retina / pathology
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa / diagnostic imaging*
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa / metabolism
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa / pathology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence

Substances

  • Biomarkers