HTRA1 and complement activation in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between high temperature requirement A (HTRA1) and the local complement system, we measured HTRA1 and complement activation products in the aqueous humor of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Study Design: Surveys (cross-sectional studies).

Methods: One hundred twenty-one eyes of 121 patients with nAMD and 55 control eyes were enrolled.

Age-Related Maculopathy Susceptibility 2 and Complement Factor H Polymorphism and Intraocular Complement Activation in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: To investigate the association of risk alleles in complement factor H (CFH) and age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) with complement activation products in the aqueous humor in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) including polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP), and pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV).

Design: Prospective, comparative, observational study.

Participants: Treatment-naïve patients with nAMD and cataract patients as controls.

Changes in complement activation products after anti-VEGF injection for choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration and pachychoroid disease.

We evaluated changes in the complement system resulting from anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in eyes with age-related choroidal neovascularization (CNV) including neovascular age-related macular degeneration, pachychoroid neovasculopathy, and polypoidal choroidal neovasculopathy. We measured the concentrations of the complement activation products (C3a, C4a), VEGF, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the aqueous humor during intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for CNV. The VEGF level decreased significantly (P < 0.

Complement Activation Products and Cytokines in Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy and Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of complement activation products and angiogenic cytokines in the aqueous humor in eyes with pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods: This was a prospective, comparative, observational study. All patients with choroidal neovascularization were classified as PNV without polyps, PNV with polyps (polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy [PCV]), or drusen-associated nAMD according to the presence or absence of pachychoroid features and soft drusen.

Anaphylatoxin concentration in aqueous and vitreous humor in the eyes with vitreoretinal interface abnormalities.

The complement system may be activated in the posterior segment of the eye with chorioretinal disease, which may be reflected to the concentration of anaphylatoxins in the aqueous humor. Little is known about the distribution of anaphylatoxins in the aqueous and vitreous humor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of anaphylatoxin concentration in the aqueous and vitreous humor of the eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane or idiopathic macular hole.

Evidence for Activation of Lectin and Classical Pathway Complement Components in Aqueous Humor of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: The complement system is activated via 3 different pathways; the lectin pathway (LP), classical pathway (CP), and alternative pathway. To investigate the possible roles for the LP or CP in the development of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), we compared aqueous humor levels of complement proteins of the LP and CP between eyes with nAMD and those with cataract as controls.

Methods: Seventeen eyes from 17 patients with treatment-naïve nAMD and 9 eyes from 9 patients with cataract were studied.

A Case of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Complicated with A IgG4 Related Disease Like Symptoms.

We report a case of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) complicated with a IgG4 related disease like symptoms presenting as eyelid swellings. In the present case, the serum level of IgG4 and the ratio of IgG4 to IgG were generally increased by the disease course of EGPA. Considering the course of clinical symptoms, there is a possibility that orbital manifestations were one of the clinical features during the disease course of EGPA while the histological features of right eyelid tissue and other ocular manifestations were consistent with the diagnosis of IgG4 related disease.

Near-infrared and short-wave autofluorescence in ocular specimens.

Purpose: To determine histopathologic characteristics of near-infrared autofluorescence (NIR-AF) and short-wave autofluorescence (SW-AF) in ocular tissue.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: Unstained specimens from four enucleated eyes with uveal melanoma were prepared for evaluation by fluorescence microscopy.

Foveal structure during the induction phase of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for occult choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of monthly injections of aflibercept and ranibizumab on foveal structure after three months, for the treatment of occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: We retrospectively studied 103 eyes with treatment-naïve neovascular AMD with occult and no classic CNV. Seventy-four of 103 eyes were treated with ranibizumab (intravitreal ranibizumab injection [IVR] group); 29 eyes were treated with aflibercept (intravitreal aflibercept injection [IAI] group).

Switching to intravitreal aflibercept injection for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy refractory to ranibizumab.

Purpose: To clarify the efficacy of switching to intravitreal aflibercept injection to treat polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy refractory to ranibizumab.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 43 eyes of 42 patients (mean age, 76.5 years) with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy treated with aflibercept (2 mg/0.

Morphologic changes of the fovea and visual acuity associated with retinal detachment secondary to circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.

Purpose: To clarify and review the early and late morphologic changes of the macula associating with visual loss in patients with subfoveal fluid secondary to extrafoveal circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas.

Methods: Previously six non-treated eyes of six patients with subfoveal retinal detachment secondary to extrafoveal circumscribed choroidal hemangioma were included. Visual acuity (VA), duration of visual symptoms, color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence, and fluorescein angiography (FA) were evaluated.

Retinal pigment epithelium tear after intravitreal aflibercept injection.

To report a case complicated with a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tear after intravitreal aflibercept injection. A 78-year-old man had deteriorated visual acuity in his left eye. Fluorescein angiography showed occult choroidal neovascularization.

Autofluorescence of the cells in human subretinal fluid.

Purpose: The origin of autofluorescence in the subretinal space and the autofluorescence properties of the cells were investigated in surgically collected subretinal fluid.

Methods: Subretinal fluid was surgically collected from four eyes of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (three eyes) and Coats' disease (one eye). After cytocentrifuge preparation of the cells in the fluid and immunofluorescence staining, a cytologic examination was conducted by using confocal scanning laser microscopy.