Application of OCT-angiography to characterise the evolution of chorioretinal lesions in acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy

Eye (Lond). 2017 Oct;31(10):1399-1408. doi: 10.1038/eye.2017.180. Epub 2017 Oct 6.

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine a sequence of structural changes in acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) using optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) and comparing with other imaging modalities.Patients and methodsPatients with a new diagnosis of acute-onset APMPPE referred to a regional specialist centre from October 2015 to October 2016 were included. Multimodal imaging employed on all patients from diagnosis included the following: fundus fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, fundus autofluorescence, spectral domain-OCT (SD-OCT), and OCT-A. All non-invasive imaging processes were repeated during follow-up.ResultsTen eyes of five patients were included in the study, three males and two females, with a mean age of 26.2 years (range: 21-32) and a mean follow-up of 6.4 months (range: 2.6-13.3). All patients presented with bilateral disease and macular involving lesions. OCT-A imaging of the choriocapillaris was supportive of hypoperfusion at the site of APMPPE lesions during the acute phase of this condition with normalisation of choroidal vasculature during follow-up. Multimodal imaging consistently highlighted four sequential phases from presentation to resolution of active disease.ConclusionsMultimodal imaging in patients with APMPPE in acute and long-term follow-up demonstrates a reversible choroidal hypoperfusion supporting the primary inciting pathology as a choriocapillaritis. The evolution shows resolution of the ischaemia through a defined sequence that results in persistent changes at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium and outer retina. OCT-A was able to detect preclinical changes and chart resolution at the level of the choriocapillaris.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Choroiditis / diagnosis*
  • Choroiditis / physiopathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography / methods*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Humans
  • Macula Lutea / pathology*
  • Male
  • Multifocal Choroiditis
  • Multimodal Imaging*
  • Posterior Eye Segment / pathology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*
  • Visual Acuity
  • Young Adult