OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY OF TIME COURSE OF CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION IN RESPONSE TO ANTI-ANGIOGENIC TREATMENT

Retina. 2015 Nov;35(11):2260-4. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000000846.

Abstract

Purpose: To use optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography to monitor the short-term blood flow changes in choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in response to treatment.

Methods: In this retrospective report, a case of exudative CNV was followed closely with OCT angiography over three cycles of antiangiogenic treatment. Outer retinal flow index, CNV flow area and central macular retinal thickness were measured.

Results: Quantitative measurements of CNV flow area and flow index showed rapid shutdown of flow over the initial 2 weeks, followed by reappearance of CNV channel by the fourth week, preceding fluid reaccumulation at 6 weeks.

Conclusion: Frequent OCT angiography reveals a previously unknown pattern of rapid shutdown and reappearance of CNV channels within treatment cycles. OCT angiographic changes precede fluid reaccumulation and could be useful as leading indicators of CNV activity that could guide treatment timing. Further studies using OCT angiography in short intervals between antiangiogenic treatments are needed.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Flow Velocity
  • Choroid / blood supply*
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / drug therapy*
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography*
  • Humans
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • aflibercept
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor