title: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Diabetic Retinopathy: A Prospective Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate how optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography depicts clinical fundus findings in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study evaluating imaging technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven eyes of 25 patients with DR were scanned using a high-speed 840-nm-wavelength spectral-domain optical coherence tomography instrument (RTVue XR Avanti; Optovue, Inc, Fremont, California, USA). Blood flow was detected using the split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography algorithm. Fluorescein angiography (FA) images were also obtained in all eyes and the ability to visualize microaneurysms, retinal nonperfused areas, and neovascularization was compared with that of the en face OCT angiograms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 42 eyes, microaneurysms detected by FA near the macula appeared as focally dilated saccular or fusiform capillaries on OCT angiograms of the superficial and/or deep capillary plexus. Retinal nonperfused areas visualized by FA appeared as lesions with no or sparse capillaries on OCT angiograms. Area measurement of retinal nonperfusion near the macula in 7 eyes revealed a difference between the extent of nonperfused areas in superficial and deep plexuses. In 4 eyes, the vascular structures of neovascularization at the optic disc were clearly visualized on OCT angiograms. Decreases and re-increases of flow in new vessels were quantified in an eye treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OCT angiography can clearly visualize microaneurysms and retinal nonperfused areas and enables closer observation of each layer of the retinal capillaries. Quantitative information on new vessels can also be obtained. OCT angiography may be clinically useful to evaluate the microvascular status and therapeutic effect of treatments for DR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan. Electronic address: bazawa14@asahikawa-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishibazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Taiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagaoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuneaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omae
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomofumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sogawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Harumasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Akitoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab