[Retinal angiomatous proliferation in age-related macular degeneration].
BACKGROUND
Angiomatous proliferation in ARMD originates from the retina and extends into the subretinal space. Retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) is diagnosed with angiography. This study investigates the characteristics of RAP in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and correlates them with clinical and fluorescein angiographic findings.


METHODS
327 consecutive patients with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) were retrospectively examined using a standardised protocol. The protocol included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), binocular ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography (FAG) and OCT. The OCT and angiographic findings were graded in 3 RAP stages.


RESULTS
32 of 327 (9.79 %) patients (45 eyes) had RAP. The age ranged from 56 to 90 years (median: 79 years). 9 eyes presented RAP stage I, 23 stage II and 13 stage III. BCVA ranged from 0.01 to 0.7 (median: 0.2). OCT foveal minimum was 136 to 722 microns (median: 327). 33 (73 %) eyes showed a detachment of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Macular oedema was found in 43 (96 %) eyes. Cystoid macular oedema was seen in 36 (80 %) eyes. In stage II, 22 eyes (96 %) showed an RPE detachment, in stage III 11 eyes (85 %). 11 (85 %) eyes in stage III showed retinal-choroidal anastomosis.


CONCLUSIONS
RAP was found in 9.79 % of the patients with ARMD. The OCT is helpful in detection of RPE detachment, macular oedema and cystoid changes in RAP. RAP and retinal-choroidal anastomosis should be identified because of the possibly poor prognosis.
Kuerzinger
G R
GR
Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Augenklinik, Prittwitzstrasse 43, 89075 Ulm.
Lang
G K
GK
Lang
G E
GE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D042262:Retinoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*