Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of Perilimbal Vasculature in Port-Wine Stain and Sturge-Weber Syndrome Patients

Effect of Hemoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy in the treatment of facial port-wine stains on intraocular pressure

BACKGROUND

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a potential treatment for port-wine stains (PWS), but its effects on intraocular pressure (IOP) have not been reported. This study evaluated the efficacy of PDT for facial PWS and analyzed the changes in IOP before and after treatment.

METHODS

Data from 32 patients with facial PWS who underwent single PDT treatment at our department were collected. The patients were divided into three groups based on the location of the PWS. Group A (15 cases) involved the eyelid of the eye being measured; Group B (10 cases) was located near the eyes but did not involve the measured eyelid; and Group C (7 cases) was situated on the face but not near the eyes. IOP measurements were taken before and after treatment, and the efficacy and changes in IOP were analyzed.

RESULTS

The overall efficacy rates of single PDT were 84.37 %, demonstrating superior efficacy for the pink type, age < 6 years, and skin lesions < 10 cm2 (P < 0.05). The higher IOP was observed on the side with eyelid involvement of PWS (P < 0.001). The IOP of the affected side in Group A decreased by 2.13 ± 2.10 mmHg on average after treatment, which was statistically significant compared with the other two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Eyelid involvement in PWS increases the risk of elevated IOP. Hemoporfin-mediated PDT can reduce the IOP in patients with PWS involving the eyelid within a safe range. PDT for facial PWS is considered to be safe and effective.

GNAQ R183Q somatic mutation contributes to aberrant arteriovenous specification in Sturge-Weber syndrome through Notch signaling

Episcleral vasculature malformation is a significant feature of Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) secondary glaucoma, the density and diameter of which are correlated with increased intraocular pressure. We previously reported that the GNAQ R183Q somatic mutation was located in the SWS episclera. However, the mechanism by which GNAQ R183Q leads to episcleral vascular malformation remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the correlation between GNAQ R183Q and episcleral vascular malformation via surgical specimens, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and the HUVEC cell line EA.hy926. Our findings demonstrated a positive correlation between episcleral vessel diameter and the frequency of the GNAQ R183Q variant. Furthermore, the upregulation of genes from the Notch signaling pathway and abnormal coexpression of the arterial marker EphrinB2 and venous marker EphB4 were demonstrated in the scleral vasculature of SWS. Analysis of HUVECs overexpressing GNAQ R183Q in vitro confirmed the upregulation of Notch signaling and arterial markers. In addition, knocking down of Notch1 diminished the upregulation of arterial markers induced by GNAQ R183Q. Our findings strongly suggest that GNAQ R183Q leads to malformed episcleral vasculatures through Notch-induced aberrant arteriovenous specification. These insights into the molecular basis of episcleral vascular malformation will provide new pathways for the development of effective treatments for SWS secondary glaucoma.

Sturge-Weber Syndrome and Glaucoma

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by capillary venous malformations in the skin, eye, and brain with the occurrence of angiomas of the face, choroid, and leptomeninges. The characteristics signs include facial port-wine birth mark, glaucoma, choroidal hemangioma with brain malformations, and cognitive abnormalities. In this article, we have documented the case report of a 24-year-old male with SWS presenting with glaucoma.

Changes in Limbal Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Outcomes in Patients With Overnight Contact Lens Wear

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the perilimbal vasculature of patients who wear contact lenses (CLs) overnight with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and compare the results with healthy population.

METHODS

Forty-two patients were included in this observational study. The OCTA imaging was performed in the temporal quadrant of the perilimbal region using a swept-source optical coherence tomography system (Triton DRI-OCT; Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The assessments were made in two depths: starting from the conjunctival epithelium to 200 μm scleral depth and the scleral depth between 200 and 1,000 μm. The vessel density, vessel length density, vessel diameter index, and fractal dimension were the main outcomes and compared between overnight CL users and healthy population.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients who have been using CLs overnight for at least 3 months and 20 healthy individuals were included in the study. The vessel density at the superficial layer was significantly higher in the CL group compared with the control group (P<0.001). Vessel diameter index, vessel length density, and fractal dimension at the superficial layer did not differ between the groups (P>0.05 for all). There was no difference in the vessel density, vessel diameter index, vessel length density, and fractal dimension in the deep layer between the groups (P>0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who use CL overnight exhibit increased vessel density in the superficial layers of the perilimbal region, which may suggest new vessel formation in the conjunctiva. Anterior segment OCTA may be useful to evaluate the initial changes in limbal vasculature in CL users.

Prediction of trabecular meshwork-targeted micro-invasive glaucoma surgery outcomes using anterior segment OCT angiography

We performed a prospective, longitudinal study to investigate the association between the preoperative intrascleral vasculature assessed using anterior segment (AS)-optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and surgical outcomes of trabecular meshwork-targeted micro- or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). We included 37 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Preoperative AS-OCTA images of the sclero-conjunctiva of the nasal corneal limbus were acquired in the superficial (conjunctival) and deep (intrascleral) layers. The vessel densities (VDs) of each layer were measured separately in the entire area, limbal side, and fornix area. Surgical success was determined by postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP reduction. Twenty-three and 14 eyes were classified as having successful and unsuccessful outcomes, respectively. The deep VDs of the entire area and fornix area were significantly lower in the successful group (P = 0.031 and P = 0.009). The success rate was significantly higher for eyes with a lower deep VD than for eyes with a higher deep VD. A greater IOP reduction was significantly associated with lower deep VD in the fornix area (P = 0.022) and higher preoperative IOP (P < 0.001). These results indicate that intrascleral vasculature assessed using preoperative AS-OCTA was negatively correlated with surgical success and IOP reduction resulting from trabecular meshwork-targeted MIGS. AS-OCTA images might help predict MIGS outcomes.