Clinical manifestations of cuticular drusen in Korean patients

Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 10;10(1):11469. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68493-2.

Abstract

Cuticular drusen show some similarities to and differences from soft drusen in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and might thus be a unique AMD subtype. Previous studies on cuticular drusen were performed mainly in white ethnic groups, but AMD shows ethnic differences. We investigated clinical manifestations of cuticular drusen in Korean patients to evaluate possible ethnic differences. Clinical records of Korean patients with cuticular drusen were retrospectively reviewed. Fundus distribution pattern, imaging features, and presence of large drusen, drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (PED), and macular complications, including geographic atrophy (GA), choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and acquired vitelliform lesion (AVL), were assessed via multimodal imaging in 162 eyes with cuticular drusen (n = 81 patients; 67 females; mean age: 66.6 ± 9.1 years). Diffuse distribution was found in 61.7% and peripapillary involvement in 75.3% of eyes. Large drusen, drusenoid PED, GA, CNV, and AVL were observed in 59.3%, 26.5%, 18.5%, 3.7%, and 1.2% of eyes, respectively. The macular complication prevalence was similar between patients ≤ 60 and those > 60 years old. In Korean patients, cuticular drusen were less frequently associated with macular complications than in white patients, and the proportion of macular complications differed significantly, with AVL representing an uncommon complication.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bruch Membrane / diagnostic imaging
  • Bruch Membrane / pathology*
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / diagnostic imaging*
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / epidemiology
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / pathology
  • Eye Diseases, Hereditary / diagnostic imaging*
  • Eye Diseases, Hereditary / epidemiology
  • Eye Diseases, Hereditary / pathology
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Geographic Atrophy / diagnostic imaging
  • Geographic Atrophy / epidemiology
  • Geographic Atrophy / pathology
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration / diagnostic imaging*
  • Macular Degeneration / epidemiology
  • Macular Degeneration / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Retina / diagnostic imaging
  • Retina / pathology
  • Retinal Detachment / diagnostic imaging*
  • Retinal Detachment / epidemiology
  • Retinal Detachment / pathology
  • Retinal Drusen / diagnostic imaging*
  • Retinal Drusen / epidemiology
  • Retinal Drusen / pathology
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy

Supplementary concepts

  • Basal Laminar Drusen