DISCORDANCE BETWEEN BLUE-LIGHT AUTOFLUORESCENCE AND NEAR-INFRARED AUTOFLUORESCENCE IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heiferman, Michael J.; Fawzi, Amani A.
• Is Part Of: Retina. Volume 36(2016)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: age-related macular degeneration -- blue-light autofluorescence -- near-infrared autofluorescence -- spectral-domain optical coherence tomography -- geographic atrophy -- pigment migration -- calcific drusen; Retina -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Retinal Diseases; Vitreous Body; 617.735
• DOI: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000001254
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-004X

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To identify the origin and significance of discordance between blue-light autofluorescence (BL-AF; 488 nm) and near-infrared autofluorescence (NI-AF; 787 nm) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: A total of 86 eyes of 59 patients with a diagnosis of AMD were included in this cross-sectional study conducted between March 9, 2015 and May 1, 2015. A masked observer examined the BL-AF, NI-AF, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images. Areas with discordance of autofluorescence patterns between NI-AF and BL-AF images were correlated with structural findings at the corresponding location in optical coherence tomography scans. Results: Seventy-nine eyes had discordance between BL-AF and NI-AF. The most common optical coherence tomography finding accounting for these discrepancies was pigment migration accounting for 35 lesions in 21 eyes. The most clinically relevant finding was geographic atrophy missed on BL-AF in 7 eyes. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that variations in the distribution of lipofuscin, melanin and melanolipofuscin account for the majority of discordance between BL-AF and NI-AF. Given our finding of missed geographic atrophy lesions on BL-AF in 24% of eyes with geographic atrophy (7/29 eyes), clinicians should consider multimodal imaging, including NI-AF and optical coherence tomography, especially in clinical trials of geographic atrophy. Abstract : Lesions causing discordance between blue-light autofluorescence and near-infrared autofluorescence in age-related macular degeneration include pigment migration, calcific drusen, photoreceptor loss with intact retinal pigment epithelium and missed geographic atrophy.