RETINAL HYPERREFLECTIVE FOCI IN TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS. Issue 8 (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schreur, Vivian; de Breuk, Anita; Venhuizen, Freerk G.; Sánchez, Clara I.; Tack, Cees J.; Klevering, B. Jeroen; de Jong, Eiko K.; Hoyng, Carel B.
• Is Part Of: Retina. Volume 40:Issue 8(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: hyperreflective foci -- diabetic macular edema -- diabetic retinopathy -- optical coherence tomography -- image analysis; Retina -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Retinal Diseases; Vitreous Body; 617.735
• DOI: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000002626
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-004X

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To investigate hyperreflective foci (HF) on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus across different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) and to study clinical and morphological characteristics associated with HF. Methods: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scans and color fundus photographs were obtained of 260 patients. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scans were graded for the number of HF and other morphological characteristics. The distribution of HF across different stages of DR and DME severity were studied. Linear mixed-model analysis was used to study associations between the number of HF and clinical and morphological parameters. Results: Higher numbers of HF were found in patients with either stage of DME versus patients without DME ( P < 0.001). A trend was observed between increasing numbers of HF and DR severity, although significance was only reached for moderate nonproliferative DR ( P = 0.001) and proliferative DR ( P = 0.019). Higher numbers of HF were associated with longer diabetes duration ( P = 0.029), lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( P = 0.005), and the presence of microalbuminuria ( P = 0.005). In addition, HF were associated with morphological characteristics on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, including central retinal thickness ( P = 0.004), cysts ( P < 0.001), subretinal fluid ( P = 0.001), and disruption of the external limiting membrane ( P = 0.018). Conclusion: The number of HF was associated with different stages of DR and DME severity. The associations between HF and clinical and morphological characteristics can be of use in further studies evaluating the role of HF as a biomarker for disease progression and treatment response. Abstract : Hyperreflective foci on OCT may be a potential biomarker for treatment response and disease progression in diabetic retinal disease. In this study of Type 1 diabetics, associations were found between hyperreflective foci and disease severity and with both morphological and clinical characteristics.