ObjectiveTo report the BEST1 gene mutations and clinical phenotypes in two pedigrees with Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD) and autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB)．MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From November 2019 to March 2021, in the Department of Ophthalmology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, the BVMD family (4 patients and 6 family members) and the ARB family (2 patients, 2 family members), a total of 6 patients and 8 normal family members were included in the study. Detailed medical history was obtained; best corrected visual acuity, fundus color photography, electrophysiology, optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence examination were performed. The clinical characteristics for all patients in the two families were analyzed. Three milliliter peripheral venous blood of all participants in the family was collected, and the whole genomic DNA was extracted with gene sequencing using next-generation sequencing technology based on targeted capture. Compared with the database to identify the pathogenicity mutation sites, suspected pathogenic mutation sites were selected, then mutations in other members in the family was assayed by Sanger sequencing. ResultsIn family 1, the proband was demonstrated as typical BVMD, other patients were multifocal vitelliform macular dystrophy. The DNA sequencing result showed that all the 4 patients carried heterozygous missense mutations in exon 3 of BEST1 gene: c.240C>G (p.F80L) (M1) and 2 members carried this mutation, but without clinical phenotype. M1 was a likely-pathogenic mutation reported for the first time. In family 2, the proband and the other patient were diagnosed as ARB. The DNA result showed that the 2 patients carried heterozygous missense mutations in exon 5 and exon 2 of BEST1 gene: c.584C>T (p.A195V) (M2)、c.139C>A (p.R47S) (M3), and a heterozygous frameshift mutation in exon 3 of BEST1 gene: c.235dupT (p.S79Ffs*153) (M4). M2 was a pathogenic mutation reported previously. M3 variant was of undetermined significance. M4 was a first reported pathogenic mutation. ConclusionsThe BEST1 gene mutation is the main cause of BVMD and ARB. Different mutation sites have different clinical phenotypes. BVMD and ARB have genetic and clinical heterogeneity.
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the macular choroidal thickness and choroidal blood perfusion (CBP) in eyes with idiopathic macular hole (IMH) and their correlation. MethodsA cross-sectional observational clinical study. From March 2019 to October 2021, 60 IMH patients with 60 eyes (IMH group) and 60 healthy volunteers with 60 eyes (control group) who consecutively visited Department of Ophthalmology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included in the study. Among the 60 eyes in the IMH group, 8, 8, 15, and 29 eyes were at stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ, respectively. There was no significant difference in age, spherical equivalent power and axial length between the two groups (t=1.327, 0.157, 0.542; P＞0.05). The average macular choriodal thickness (AMCT) and CBP in different regions of the macular region of the examined eye were measured using a swept-frequency light source optical coherence tomography scanner. According to the zoning method for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, the choroid within 6 mm of the fovea was divided into 3 concentric circles with the fovea as the center. They are the central area with a diameter of 1 mm, the inner ring area of 1-3 mm, and the outer ring area of 3-6 mm; the inner ring area and the outer ring area were divided into 4 areas by 2 radiations respectively, including the upper part of the inner superior (IS), the lower part of the inner inferior (Ⅱ), and the nasal side of the inner nasal (IN), inner temporal (IT), outer superior (OS), outer inferior (OI), outer nasal (ON), outer temporal (OT), a total of 9 regions. The distribution characteristics of AMCT and CBP in different regions were observed. The correlation between AMCT and CBP was analyzed by Pearson correlation; the correlation between AMCT, CBP and IMH stage was analyzed by Spearman correlation. ResultsCompared with the eyes of the control group, the AMCT of the affected eyes in the IMH group was significantly thinner in all areas of the macula, and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.378, 4.641, 2.888, 3.390, 3.575, 4.870, 4.077, 4.946, 4.578; P＜0.05). Compared with the control group, the CBP in the OS and OT regions of the affected eyes in the IMH group was significantly lower, the difference was statistically significant (t=3.424, 4.516; P＜0.05). The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between AMCT and CBP in the OT region (r=0.314, P＜0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between AMCT and IMH staging in each region (r=0.375, 0.374, 0.289, 0.379, 0.441, 0.392, 0.303, 0.341, 0.292; P＜0.05). There was no significant correlation between CBP and IMH staging in IN, OI and OT regions (r=－0.138, －0.016, －0.221; P＞0.05); CBP and IMH staging in other regions were significantly negatively correlated (r=－0.560, －0.390, －0.819, －0.692, －0.329, －0.587; P＜0.05). ConclusionsThe choroidal thickness in the macular region of the eyes with IMH is significantly thinner than that of the normal subjects; there is choroidal hypoperfusion in local areas. There is a significant positive correlation between local regional AMCT and CBP; IMH stage is higher, the trend of AMCT in each region is thickening, and the CBP in most regions decrease.
Objective To observe the anastomotic status of the vortex veins in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). MethodsA cross-sectional study of clinical practice. From July 2021 to July 2022, 50 cases (50 eyes) of monocular CSC patients diagnosed through ophthalmic examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included in the study. Among them, there were 37 males (74.0%, 37/50) and 13 females (26.0%, 13/50), with the mean age of (44.30±9.59) years old. The course of disease from the onset of symptoms to the time of treatment was less than 3 months. The affected eye and contralateral eye of CSC patients were divided into the affected eye group and contralateral eye group, respectively. Fifty healthy volunteers of the same age and gender were selected as the normal control group with 50 eyes. The macular area scanning source optical coherence tomography (OCT) vascular imaging examination was performed with Visual Microimaging (Henan) Technology Co., Ltd. VG200D. Horizontal watershed vortex veins anastomosis rate and asymmetric vortex-venous dilation rate were observed by en face OCT. The device comes with software to calculate the central foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), mean choroidal thickness (MCT), and choroidal vascular index (CVI). One-way analysis of variance and χ2 test were used to compare the three groups. When variances were unequal between groups, nonparametric tests were performed. ResultsThe SFCT values of the affected eye group, contralateral eye group, and normal control group were (567.12±129.02), (513.26±133.17), (327.64±97.40) μm, respectively; MCT were (407.38±97.54), (388.24±94.13), (275.46±60.55) μm, respectively; CVI were 0.34±0.05, 0.32±0.04, and 0.27±0.04, respectively; anastomosis rates of vortex veins were 98% (49/50), 78% (39/50), and 40% (20/50), respectively; asymmetric dilation rates of vortex veins were 96% (48/50), 88% (44/50), and 48% (24/50), respectively. The differences of SFCT (F=53.974), MCT (Z=51.415), CVI (F=28.082), vortex vein anastomosis rate (χ2=43.056), asymmetric dilation rate of vortex veins (χ2=37.728) among three groups were statistically significant (P＜0.001). Compared with the contralateral eye group, the SFCT, MCT, CVI, vortex vein anastomosis rate, and vortex vein asymmetric dilation rate in the affected eye group were significantly higher than those in the contralateral eye group. Among them, the differences of SFCT (t=2.054), CVI (t=2.211), and vortex vein anastomosis rate (χ2=9.470) were statistically significant (P＜0.05); the differences of MCT (Z=7.490), asymmetric dilation rate of vortex veins（χ2=2.714) were not statistically significant (P=1.000, 0.140). ConclusionsSFCT, MCT, and CVI in the affected and contralateral eyes of monocular CSC patients significantly increase. The anastomotic rate and asymmetric dilation rate of the vortex vein in the opposite eye were lower than those in the affected eye.
Objective To quantitatively evaluate the changes of choroidal biomarkers in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and preliminarily explore its pathogenesis. MethodsClinical cross-sectional study. From July 2021 to December 2022, 74 eyes of 65 patients with CSC (CSC group) confirmed by ophthalmic examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included in the study. Among them, 46 patients (51 eyes) were male, 19 patients (23 eyes) were female. The duration from the onset of symptoms to the time of treatment was less than or equal to 3 months. A control group consisted of 40 healthy volunteers (74 eyes) matched in age and gender. Among them, 26 patients (50 eyes) were male, and 14 patients (24 eyes) were female. Using VG200D from Microimaging (Henan) Technology Co., Ltd., macular scanning source light coherence tomography angiography was performed, with scanning range 6 mm × 6 mm. According to the division of the diabetes retinopathy treatment research group, the choroid within 6 mm of the macular fovea was divided into three concentric circles centered on the macular fovea, namely, the central area with a diameter of 1 mm, the macular area with a diameter of 1-3 mm, and the surrounding area of the fovea with a diameter of 3-6 mm. The device comes with software to record the three-dimensional choroidal vascular index (CVI), choroidal vascular volume (CVV), perfusion area of the choroidal capillary layer (CFA), choroidal thickness (CT), and three-dimensional CVI, CVV, and CT in the upper, temporal, lower, and subnasal quadrants within 6 mm of the fovea. Quantitative data between the two groups were compared using an independent sample t-test. Qualitative data comparison line χ2 inspection. The value of receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis in predicting the occurrence of CSC, including CVI, CVV, CFA, and CT. ResultsCompared with the control group, the CVI (t=3.133, 4.814), CVV (t=7.504, 9.248), and CT (t=10.557, 10.760) in the central and macular regions of the affected eyes in the CSC group significantly increased, while the CFA (t=－8.206, －5.065) significantly decreased, with statistically significant differences (P＜0.05); CVI (t=7.129), CVV (t=10.020), and CT (t=10.488) significantly increased within 6 mm of the central fovea, while CFA (t=－2.548) significantly decreased, with statistically significant differences (P＜0.05). The CVI (t=4.980, 4.201, 4.716, 8.491), CVV (t=9.014, 7.156, 7.719, 10.730), and CT (t=10.077, 8.700, 8.960, 11.704) in the upper, temporal, lower, and lower nasal quadrants within 6 mm of the central fovea were significantly increased, with statistically significant differences (P＜0.05). In the CSC group, the maximum CVI and CVV were (0.39±0.10)% and (1.09±0.42) mm3, respectively, on the nasal side of the affected eye. Upper CT was (476.02±100.89) μm. The nasal side CVI, CVV, and CT have the largest changes. The ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve of CT, CVV, and CVI within 6 mm of the central region, macular region, and fovea was over than 0.5. Subcentral CT was the most specific for the diagnosis of CSC. ConclusionChoroidal biomarkers CVI, CVV, and CT in CSC patients increase, while CFA decreases. Central CT is the most specific for the diagnosis of CSC.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with pachydrusen in eyes affected by central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From July 2021 to June 2024, 144 cases and 158 eyes of CSC patients diagnosed through ophthalmological examination at Department of Ophthalmology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included. All affected eyes underwent a series of assessments, including refraction, intraocular pressure measurement, fundus color photography, fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), and swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT). Additionally, 58 eyes underwent indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Cross-sectional (en-face) OCT was utilized to observe the colocalization of pachydrusen with areas of dilation of large choroidal vessels and attenuation of the choriocapillaris layer. The device was used for OCT included software for calculating subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT). FFA fluorescein leakage was categorized into “ink stain”, “cooking smoke”, and “diffuse point leakage”. Patients were classified into groups of CSC patients complicated by pachydrusen and groups of CSC patients without pachydrusen. Comparisons between the groups were performed using the χ2 test, and factors associated with the presence of pachydrusen were analyzed using logistic regression. ResultsAmong 158 eyes, 72 eyes (45.6%, 72/158) were complicated by pachydrusen. In en-face OCT images, pachydrusen were co-located with dilated outer choroidal vessels in 59 eyes (81.94%, 59/72) and corresponded to choroidal capillary layer blood flow holes in 61 eyes (84.72%, 61/72). Among the 58 eyes that underwent ICGA examination, pachydrusen corresponded to punctate strong fluorescence in 46 eyes (79.31%, 46/58) and were located in areas of choroidal hyperpermeability in 43 eyes (74.14%, 43/58). Compared with the CSC group without pachydrusen, the incidence of choroidal neovascularization, flat irregular pigment epithelial detachment, diffuse punctal leakage and multiple leakage points increased in the CSC group, and the differences were statistically significant (χ2=6.217, 8.455, 5.363, 17.749; P＜0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that age [odds ratio (OR)=1.116, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.060-1.176, P＜0.001], chronic CSC [OR=2.628, 95%CI 1.250-5.526, P=0.011] were independent risk factors for the occurrence of pachydrusen. ConclusionsThe incidence of pachydrusen in eyes with CSC is 45.6%, with age and cCSC identified as independent risk factors for their occurrence. Pachydrusen correspond to dilated choroidal vessels and areas of choroidal hyperpermeability, which may serve as potential risk factors for CSC activity or development.