Outcomes of combined treatments in patients with retinal arterial macroaneurysm

Impacts of angiotensin II on retinal artery changes in apolipoprotein E deficient mice

AIM

To investigate the impacts of angiotensin II (Ang II) on retinal artery changes in apolipoprotein E deficient (apoE-/-) mice.

METHODS

apoE-/- male mice were infused by minipumps with Ang II at 1000 ng/kg·min (Ang II group) or saline (control group) for 28d. They were underwent ophthalmic fundus examination on day 0, 14, and 28 of infusion. Histopathologic examination, ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing and local Ang II measurement of retinas were conducted.

RESULTS

Ophthalmic fundus examination showed Ang II infusion promoted the formation of retinal arterial aneurysm-like lesions on day 28. Optical coherence tomography revealed the ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in the control group was significantly thinner than that in Ang II group (P<0.001). Hematoxylin-eosin staining demonstrated diffused swelling of GCIPL layer and its disordered structure in Ang II group. Transmission electron microscopy showed Ang II infusion caused aggravation of atherosclerotic lesions, including increased swelling, roughness, disorganization of the retinal vasculature, and vacuoles formation. RNA-sequencing and gene ontology enrichment analysis demonstrated that the structure and function of cellular membrane might be disturbed and visual function might be compromised by Ang II. The local level of Ang II was higher in Ang II infusion group but did not show significant differences compared to the control group (P=0.086).

CONCLUSION

Ang II infusion promotes the formation of retinal arterial aneurysm-like lesions in apoE-/- mice, causing aggravation of atherosclerotic lesions, more severe disorganization of the retinal vasculature and disturbance of the cellular membrane.

Retinal laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF for hemorrhagic retinal arterial microaneurysm

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy of retinal laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) for hemorrhagic retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM).

METHODS

This was a retrospective clinical study. Patients with hemorrhagic RAM were divided into 4 groups defined by different treatments: a retinal laser photocoagulation therapy monotherapy group, an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection monotherapy group, a laser and anti-VEGF combination therapy group, and an observation group. Visual acuity (VA), central macular thickness (CMT), and retinal hemorrhage area (RHA) were collected.

RESULTS

Forty-seven eyes of 47 patients were enrolled. VA improved and had a significant difference between baseline and final in each treatment group (logMAR; laser group: 1.90±0.53 vs 1.05±0.63, P<0.001; anti-VEGF group: 1.75±0.63 vs 1.12±0.54, P=0.009; combination group: 1.76±0.38 vs 1.01±0.52, P<0.001); however, VA decreased and had no significant difference in observation group (1.63±0.51 vs 1.76±0.61, P=0.660). CMT decreased and had a significant difference between baseline and final in each group (laser group: 815.16±310.83 vs 252.05±83.90 µm, P<0.001; anti-VEGF group: 725.00±290.79 vs 203.56±69.89 µm, P=0.001; combination group: 595.50±186.51 vs 253.13±55.06 µm, P=0.001; observation group: 758.88±195.65 vs 267.00±120.90 µm, P=0.001). RHA were 28.99±28.15, 25.94±11.58, 19.64±8.97, and 27.45±13.76 mm2 in laser group, anti-VEGF group, combination group and observation group, respectively. RHA was statistically correlated with final VA (P=0.032) in the observation group.

CONCLUSION

Both laser and anti-VEGF treatments are effective for hemorrhagic RAM. Combination therapy reduces the number of injections of anti-VEGF. RHA is a visual prognosis predictor in the natural history of hemorrhagic RAM.