Fundus autofluorescence features in the inflammatory maculopathies.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Cecilia S Lee, Emory University; Aaron Y Lee, Washington University in St Louis; Farzin Forooghian, Emory University; Chris Bergstrom, Emory University; Jiong Yan, Emory University; Steven Yeh, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2014
• Publisher: Dove Medical Press
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2014 Lee et al. This work is published by Dove Medical Press Limited, and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S68446
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Clinical Ophthalmology
• ISSN: 1177-5467
• Volume: 8
• Start Page: 2001
• End Page: 2012
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported in part by an unrestricted grant to the Emory Eye Center from the Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB).; The Emory University School of Medicine and the University of British Columbia Institutional Review Board approved this study, and all work pertaining to this project maintained HIPAA compliance.; This work was also supported in part by an NEI Core Grant for Vision Research (P30 EY 006360).
• Keywords: foveal autofluorescence; posterior uveitis; quantification; fundus autofluorescence imaging
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Opthamology

Abstract

Purpose To describe the fundus autofluorescence (FAF) features of the inflammatory maculopathies and develop a quantification method for FAF analysis. Methods This is a retrospective, consecutive case series of patients with inflammatory maculopathies from two tertiary centers. The clinical findings, demographics, and FAF imaging characteristics were reviewed. Foveal autofluorescence (AF) was analyzed. Median and standard deviation (SD) of foveal AF intensity were measured. Results Thirty eyes of 15 patients were evaluated with both qualitative and quantitative FAF analysis. In acute macular neuroretinopathy, the active phase showed foveal hypoautofluorescence, which became hypoautofluorescent with resolution. In acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy, multiple lesions with hypoautofluorescent centers with hyperautofluorescent borders were observed in active disease and became hypoautofluorescent with disease convalescence. In multifocal choroiditis and punctate inner choroiditis, the active hyperautofluorescent lesions progressed to inactive, hypoautofluorescent scars. Active serpiginous choroiditis showed hyperautofluorescent borders adjacent to a helicoid-shaped, hypoautofluorescent scar. Active unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy (UAIM) showed a complex pattern of hypo- and hyperautoflourescence in the macula. The median foveal AF was the greatest in acute macular neuroretinopathy and UAIM among the maculopathies, while the greatest SD of foveal AF intensity was observed in UAIM. Conclusion The active phase of the majority of inflammatory maculopathies was characterized by hyperautofluorescent lesions. Increased SD of foveal AF correlated with a mixture of hypo-and hyperautoflourescence. Median and SD may be useful metrics in foveal AF and quantifiable values that may be assessed over time as a disease process evolves. Improvements in quantification methods of FAF imaging may allow us to objectively evaluate posterior uveitis.