Cited by 149Retinal Diseases and TreatmentsRetinal Imaging and AnalysisRetinal Development and Disorders

Measuring the Contributions of Basal Laminar Deposit and Bruch’s Membrane in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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Sura, Amol A., Chen, Ling, Messinger, Jeffrey D., Swain, Thomas A., McGwin, Gerald, Freund, K. Bailey, Curcio, Christine A.·2020·Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science

Abstract

Purpose: Basal laminar deposit (BLamD) is a consistent finding in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We quantified BLamD thickness, appearance, and topography in eyes of aged donors with and without AMD and evaluated its relationship to other components of the retinal pigment epithelium-basal lamina/Bruch's membrane (RPE-BL-BrM) complex. Methods: Donor eyes (n = 132) were classified as normal (n = 54), early to intermediate AMD (n = 24), geographic atrophy (GA; n = 13), and neovascular AMD (NV; n = 41). In high-resolution histology, we assessed RPE, BLamD, and BrM thicknesses and phenotypes at 3309 predefined locations in the central (foveal and perifovea) and superior (perifoveal) sections. Pre-mortem optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of a 90-year-old woman was compared to postmortem histopathology. Results: In non-atrophic areas of AMD eyes, the RPE-BLamD is thick (normal = 13.7 µm, early-intermediate = 16.8 µm, GA = 17.4 µm, NV = 18.7 µm), because the BLamD is thick (normal = 0.3 µm, early-intermediate = 5.5 µm, GA = 4.1 µm, NV = 5.3 µm). RPE layer thickness is similar across these stages. Disease-associated variants of BLamD (thick, late, basal mounds) cluster subfoveally. A thick BLamD is visible on OCT as a hyporeflective split in the RPE-BL-BrM complex. BrM is thin (3.5 µm) in NV (normal = 4.2 µm, early to intermediate = 4.4 µm, and GA = 4.2 µm). Conclusions: The RPE-BL-BrM complex is thick in AMD, driven by the accumulation and expansion of BLamD rather than expansion of either three-layer BrM, RPE-BL, or RPE. BLamD is clinically appreciable by OCT in some patients as a non-neovascular "split RPE-BL-BrM complex" or "double-layer sign." BLamD may contribute toward the formation and progression of high-risk drusen yet also exhibit protective properties.

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  • Recent data suggest that the thickening of the RPE-BrM complex in AMD eyes is mainly due to the accumulation of BLamDs and extracellular matrix material between the basal lamina and plasma membrane of the RPE, rather than accumulation within the RPE or BrM itself.

    “Recent data suggest that the thickening of the RPE–BrM complex in AMD eyes is mainly due to the accumulation of BLamDs and extracellular matrix material between the basal lamina and plasma membrane of the RPE, rather than accumulation within the RPE or BrM itself [69].”

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Authors
Sura, A. A., Chen, L., Messinger, J. D., Swain, T. A., McGwin, G., Freund, K. B., & Curcio, C. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
  • University of Tsukuba (JP)
Corresponding author
Curcio, Christine A.
Venue
Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science
Published
2020-11-13
Volume
61
Issue
13
Pages
19
ISSN
  • 0146-0404 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-5783
OpenAlex
W3104313195
Cited by
148
References
118
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 15
FWCI
11.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (P30AG022838)
  • National Eye Institute (P30EY003039)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Retinal Diseases and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Retinal Imaging and Analysis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Retinal Development and Disorders
Keywords
basal laminar deposits, Bruch's membrane, age-related macular degeneration, retinal pigment epithelium, geographic atrophy, neovascular AMD, double-layer sign, optical coherence tomography, postmortem histopathology, retinal thickness, choroidal neovascularization, retinal pigment epithelium thickening
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Basement Membrane, Female, Humans, Macular Degeneration, Male, Phenotype, Visual Acuity, Bruch Membrane, Tomography, Optical Coherence, Retinal Pigment Epithelium

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