Fundus Autofluorescence Imaging in Age-related Macular Degeneration Using Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy

Overview

The purpose of this study is to define phenotypic variations in atrophic Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and to identify predictive factors for disease progression based on fundus autofluorescence imaging.

Full Title of Study: “Prospective Natural History Study of Fundus Autofluorescence Imaging in Age-related Macular Degeneration (FAM-Study) Using Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Observational
  • Study Design
    • Time Perspective: Prospective
  • Study Primary Completion Date: April 2016

Detailed Description

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness in the industrialized world beyond 50 years of age. Ageing changes of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) play a key role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In postmitotic RPE cells autofluorescent lipofuscin granules accumulate with age in the lysosomal compartment mainly as a byproduct of constant phagocytosis of membranous disks shed from photoreceptor outer segments. With the advent of confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy fundus autofluorescence mediated by RPE-lipofuscin accumulation can be visualized in vivo: We plan to identify fundus autofluorescence changes as predictive factors for the development of late stage manifestations and their variation over time. Furthermore, we plan to determine the effect of increased focal accumulations of autofluorescent material on retinal sensitivity using fundus perimetry. Examination of human donor eyes with AMD will allow for correlation of fundus autofluorescence alterations in vivo and in vitro. These investigations will be performed not only to better understand the role of lipofuscin accumulation in AMD but also to manipulate these mechanisms for both experimental and therapeutic ends.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Change of geographic atrophy size to baseline
    • Time Frame: 36 months

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Must be considered reliable, willing and able to give informed consent. – Age >50 years (male or female) – Must have age-related macular degeneration in at least one eye – Clear media to allow imaging Exclusion Criteria:

  • any history of retinal surgery, including laser treatment, photodynamic therapy, radiation or intravitreal injections – history of retinal vascular occlusions – any concurrent intraocular condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, could exclude the patient from the medical or ethical point of view

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 50 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • University Hospital, Bonn
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Frank G. Holz, Prof. Dr. med. – University Hospital, Bonn
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Frank G Holz, MD, Principal Investigator, University of Bonn

References

Holz FG, Bellmann C, Margaritidis M, Schutt F, Otto TP, Volcker HE. Patterns of increased in vivo fundus autofluorescence in the junctional zone of geographic atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium associated with age-related macular degeneration. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 1999 Feb;237(2):145-52. doi: 10.1007/s004170050209.

Holz FG, Bellman C, Staudt S, Schutt F, Volcker HE. Fundus autofluorescence and development of geographic atrophy in age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2001 Apr;42(5):1051-6.

Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Fleckenstein M, Scholl HP, Holz FG. Fundus autofluorescence and progression of age-related macular degeneration. Surv Ophthalmol. 2009 Jan-Feb;54(1):96-117. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2008.10.004.

Fleckenstein M, Charbel Issa P, Helb HM, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Scholl HP, Holz FG. Correlation of lines of increased autofluorescence in macular dystrophy and pigmented paravenous retinochoroidal atrophy by optical coherence tomography. Arch Ophthalmol. 2008 Oct;126(10):1461-3. doi: 10.1001/archopht.126.10.1461. No abstract available.

Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Fleckenstein M, Gobel AP, Sehmi K, Fitzke FW, Holz FG, Tufail A. Evaluation of autofluorescence imaging with the scanning laser ophthalmoscope and the fundus camera in age-related geographic atrophy. Am J Ophthalmol. 2008 Aug;146(2):183-92. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2008.04.006. Epub 2008 Jun 2.

Citations Reporting on Results

Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Bindewald-Wittich A, Dolar-Szczasny J, Dreyhaupt J, Wolf S, Scholl HP, Holz FG; Fundus Autofluorescence in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Study Group. Correlation between the area of increased autofluorescence surrounding geographic atrophy and disease progression in patients with AMD. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006 Jun;47(6):2648-54. doi: 10.1167/iovs.05-0892.

Bindewald A, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Jorzik JJ, Dolar-Szczasny J, Sieber H, Keilhauer C, Weinberger AW, Dithmar S, Pauleikhoff D, Mansmann U, Wolf S, Holz FG. Classification of abnormal fundus autofluorescence patterns in the junctional zone of geographic atrophy in patients with age related macular degeneration. Br J Ophthalmol. 2005 Jul;89(7):874-8. doi: 10.1136/bjo.2004.057794.

Deckert A, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Jorzik J, Bindewald A, Holz FG, Mansmann U. Automated analysis of digital fundus autofluorescence images of geographic atrophy in advanced age-related macular degeneration using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO). BMC Ophthalmol. 2005 Apr 6;5:8. doi: 10.1186/1471-2415-5-8.

Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Bultmann S, Dreyhaupt J, Bindewald A, Holz FG, Rohrschneider K. Fundus autofluorescence and fundus perimetry in the junctional zone of geographic atrophy in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004 Dec;45(12):4470-6. doi: 10.1167/iovs.03-1311. Erratum In: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Jan;46(1):7.

Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Jorzik J, Unnebrink K, Holz FG; FAM Study Group. Analysis of digital scanning laser ophthalmoscopy fundus autofluorescence images of geographic atrophy in advanced age-related macular degeneration. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2002 Feb;240(2):73-8. doi: 10.1007/s00417-001-0413-3.

Dreyhaupt J, Mansmann U, Pritsch M, Dolar-Szczasny J, Bindewald A, Holz FG. Modelling the natural history of geographic atrophy in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2005 Dec;12(6):353-62. doi: 10.1080/09286580591005723.

Bindewald A, Bird AC, Dandekar SS, Dolar-Szczasny J, Dreyhaupt J, Fitzke FW, Einbock W, Holz FG, Jorzik JJ, Keilhauer C, Lois N, Mlynski J, Pauleikhoff D, Staurenghi G, Wolf S. Classification of fundus autofluorescence patterns in early age-related macular disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Sep;46(9):3309-14. doi: 10.1167/iovs.04-0430.

Einbock W, Moessner A, Schnurrbusch UE, Holz FG, Wolf S; FAM Study Group. Changes in fundus autofluorescence in patients with age-related maculopathy. Correlation to visual function: a prospective study. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2005 Apr;243(4):300-5. doi: 10.1007/s00417-004-1027-3. Epub 2004 Oct 13.

Bellmann C, Jorzik J, Spital G, Unnebrink K, Pauleikhoff D, Holz FG. Symmetry of bilateral lesions in geographic atrophy in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Arch Ophthalmol. 2002 May;120(5):579-84. doi: 10.1001/archopht.120.5.579.

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