Introduction

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography is a novel technology that rapidly and conveniently images blood vessels in vivo without the use of exogenous dyes, providing high-resolution and three-dimensional information on the morphology of physiological and pathological blood vessels at different layers of the retina by separating static (tissue) from motion (blood flow) signals.1, 2, 3 For this purpose, phase- and amplitude-based OCT angiography algorithms have been developed. Algorithms calculating differences in phase are susceptible for noise caused by the OCT system and motion artifacts. Those can be minimized with amplitude-based OCT angiography algorithms, calculating differences in intensity. Split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography (SSADA) is an improved amplitude-based algorithm that has been introduced to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio by generating multiple repeat OCT frames from two original repeat OCT frames by splitting the spectrum.4

OCT angiography has been employed to study the neovascular complex in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).2, 3 Type 2 neovascularization in AMD originates from the choroid, but is present above the retinal pigment epithelium in the subretinal compartment.5 In this study, we employed SSADA technology to study a type 2 neovascular membrane before and after ranibizumab therapy in a patient with AMD.

Materials and methods

This case study complied with Institutional Review Board regulations and the requirements of the Declaration of Helsinki.

OCT angiography images were acquired using the RTVue XR Avanti with AngioVue (Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA, USA), with a light source centered at 840 nm, a bandwidth of 45 nm, and an A-scan-rate of 70 000 scans per second. Macular cubes (3 × 3 mm) were acquired, each cube consisting of 304 clusters of two repeated B-scans containing 304 A-scans each. SSADA technology was employed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio by generating multiple repeat OCT frames from two original repeat OCT frames by splitting the spectrum.4 Motion correction was performed using registration of two orthogonally captured imaging volumes.6, 7 To delineate the plane to visualize the neovascular membrane, the automated segmentation lines were adjusted to the inner and outer margin of the lesion. En face images of the vasculature were generated by average intensity projection for the identified layer. Quantitative analyses of the neovascular membrane were performed using the publically available GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP 2.8.14 (http://gimp.org) by manually outlining visible vessels with a 1 pixel wide line. For each visit, the area of the membrane was assessed in pixels and converted to mm2 using the following equation: lesion area (mm2)=lesion area (px) × (3 mm/304 px)2. The vessel density was assessed as the total vessel length per baseline lesion area in mm−1.

Results

An 89-year-old African-American male with a history of neovascular AMD presented with decreased vision in the right eye for 2 weeks. Both eyes had been treated with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab over 1 year before presentation. The left eye had evolved to an end-stage disciform scar despite multiple ranibizumab injections.

At examination, the patient’s visual acuity was 20/300 in the right eye, and count fingers in the left eye. Dilated fundus examination showed macular hemorrhage in the right eye and an end-stage disciform scar in the left eye (Figure 1). Spectral domain OCT imaging of the right eye revealed a shallow fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment with overlying type 2 neovascularization and associated subretinal fluid. Fluorescein angiography showed a classic neovascular membrane with leakage that corresponded to the type 2 membrane on spectral domain OCT imaging (Figure 1). OCT angiography showed a large type 2 neovascular lesion with two large caliber central trunks or feeder vessels, one superior and one inferior, and a branching network of dense smaller caliber vessels radiating in all directions from the main trunk. Quantitative OCT angiography analysis of the area of the microvascular lesion measured 4.12 mm2, and the vessel density was 19.83 mm−1 at baseline (Figure 2,Table 1).

Figure 1
figure 1

(a) Color fundus photograph of the right eye showing macular hemorrhage. (b and c) Early and late frames of a fluorescein angiography showing classic type 2 neovascularization with central leakage and an adjacent pigment epithelium detachment at the temporal margin.

Figure 2
figure 2

(a–h) OCT angiography of type 2 neovascularization of the right eye at baseline and at intervals after ranibizumab therapy. (a–d) OCT angiography of type 2 neovascularization with margins outlined at baseline and at 4-week and then 2-week intervals. Note the progressive reduction in the size of the membrane. (e–h) OCT angiography of type 2 neovascularization with color-coded capillary density analysis at baseline and at aforementioned follow-up intervals. Note the progressive reduction in capillary density of the membrane. (i–l) Corresponding spectral domain OCT scans at baseline and follow-up intervals after ranibizumab therapy.

Table 1 Area of type 2 neovascularization and associated vessel density at baseline and at designated follow-up intervals after ranibizumab injection

A series of ranibizumab injections was initiated the following day, and 4 and 8 weeks later. Four weeks after the first injection of the series, the patient’s visual acuity had improved to 20/80 in the right eye, and OCT angiography revealed a smaller vascular lesion area (2.32 mm2) with a decreased vessel density of 10.24 mm−1, but the large central trunks were unchanged. Two and four weeks after the second injection, OCT angiography revealed a progressively smaller vascular lesion area and reduced vessel density (Figure 2, Table 1).

Discussion

Herein, we present the case of a patient with type 2 neovascularization and AMD in the right eye in whom sequential OCT angiography was performed. Quantitative analysis of the neovascular membrane was done at baseline and at designated intervals after ranibizumab therapy.

Four weeks after the first ranibizumab injection, the area of the neovascular membrane was significantly reduced, by ~40%, whereas the associated dense vascular plexus was also remarkably attenuated by ~50%. Four weeks after the second injection, the lesion size had further decreased, by ~30%, whereas the vascular plexus was attenuated by ~25%. This progressive reduction in the size (ie, area) and density of the neovascular complex is well illustrated in Figure 2.

Although the type 2 neovascular membrane was progressively reduced in size and density, the main central trunk of feeder vessels remained unchanged. Feeder vessels have been a notable constituent of neovascular membranes.8 It has been suggested that the main feeder vessel or central trunk may be more resistant to anti-VEGF therapy as the endothelial cells are protected by overlying pericytes whereas the branching vascular network consists of unprotected endothelial cells that are more responsive to anti-VEGF therapy.9, 10

OCT angiography is still fraught with important limitations including motion and projection artifact and insufficient temporal resolution and sensitivity to detect low flow or small caliber lesions. In our study, the type 2 neovascular complex was significantly attenuated after anti-VEGF therapy, which may be the result of undetectable lower flow signals or frankly regressed vessels.

In summary, OCT angiography provides for the first time detailed imaging of the vascular architecture of neovascular membranes in AMD. We studied the precise structural aspects of a type 2 neovascular complex using OCT angiography and were able to perform sequential quantitative analysis of the membrane after ranibizumab therapy. Obvious reduction in the size and density of the neovascular lesion was noted. Vascular components can be delineated with precision using SSADA OCT angiography technology, suggesting that this technique may be useful for managing patients with neovascular AMD and assessing potential treatments for this disease in future clinical trials.