Cited by 33Retinal Diseases and TreatmentsRetinal Imaging and AnalysisOcular Diseases and Behçet’s Syndrome

Visualizing lipid behind the retina in aging and age-related macular degeneration, via indocyanine green angiography (ASHS-LIA)

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Chen, Ling, Yang, Peizeng, Curcio, Christine A.·2022·Eye

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes legal blindness in older adults worldwide. Soft drusen are the most extensively documented intraocular risk factor for progression to advanced AMD. A long-standing paradox in AMD pathophysiology has been the vulnerability of Asian populations to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in the presence of relatively few drusen. Age-related scattered hypofluorescent spots on late phase indocyanine green angiography (ASHS-LIA) was recently proposed as precursors of PCV. Herein, we offer a resolution to the paradox by reviewing evidence that ASHS-LIA indicates the diffuse form of lipoprotein-related lipids accumulating in Bruch's membrane (BrM) throughout adulthood. Deposition of these lipids leads to soft drusen and basal linear deposit (BLinD), a thin layer of soft drusen material in AMD; Pre-BLinD is the precursor. This evidence includes: 1. Both ASHS-LIA and pre-BLinD/BLinD accumulate in older adults and start under the macula; 2. ASHS-LIA shares hypofluorescence with soft drusen, known to be physically continuous with pre-BLinD/BLinD. 3. Model system studies illuminated a mechanism for indocyanine green uptake by retinal pigment epithelium. 4. Neither ASHS-LIA nor pre-BLinD/ BLinD are visible by multimodal imaging anchored on current optical coherence tomography, as confirmed with direct clinicopathologic correlation. To contextualize ASHS-LIA, we also summarize angiographic characteristics of different drusen subtypes in AMD. As possible precursors for PCV, lipid accumulation in forms beyond soft drusen may contribute to the pathogenesis of this prevalent disease in Asia. ASHS-LIA also might help identify patients at risk for progression, of value to clinical trials for therapies targeting early or intermediate AMD.

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  1. [40]Matsubara T, Uyama M, Fukushima I, Matsunaga H, Takahashi K. [Histological proof of indocyanine green angiography-healthy eyes]. Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi. 1999;103:497–505. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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Authors
Chen, L., Yang, P., & Curcio, C. A.
Affiliations
  • The Affiliated Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (CN)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
Corresponding author
Curcio, Christine A.
Venue
Eye
Published
2022-03-21
Volume
36
Issue
9
Pages
1735-1746
ISSN
  • 0078-5334 (ISSN-L)
  • 0950-222X
  • 1476-5454
OpenAlex
W4221037060
Cited by
33
References
68
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 2
FWCI
1.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Eye (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • The National Natural Science Foundation of China
  • Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (R01EY06109)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Retinal Diseases and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Retinal Imaging and Analysis
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Ocular Diseases and Behçet’s Syndrome
Keywords
age-related macular degeneration, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, indocyanine green angiography, soft drusen, Bruch's membrane, retinal pigment epithelium, Asian populations, clinicopathological correlation
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Eye Diseases, Fluorescein Angiography, Humans, Indocyanine Green, Lipids, Macular Degeneration, Retina, Retinal Drusen, Tomography, Optical Coherence

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