 |
|
Choriocapillaris Degeneration and Related Pathologic Changes in Human Diabetic Eyes
Jingtai Cao, MD, PhD;
D. Scott McLeod;
Carol A. Merges, MAS;
Gerard A. Lutty, PhD
Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116:589-597.
Objectives To measure the extent of choriocapillaris degeneration (CCD) in diabetic choroids and to study the association of CCD with choroidal neovascularization and pathologic changes in Bruch's membrane–like basal laminar deposits.
Materials and Methods Human choroids from 10 postmortem subjects (diabetic, 5 [group 1]; nondiabetic, 5 [group 2]) were incubated for the histochemical demonstration of alkaline phosphatase and nonspecific esterase activities, permitting analysis of the choroidal vasculature and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, respectively. The tissue was then flat embedded and sectioned for structural analysis. Areas of CCD were measured in the flat perspective by computer-assisted image analysis and verified in cross-sections of flat-embedded tissue.
Results The CCD in choroids from subjects with diabetes (group 1) appeared in 2 patterns: diffuse (partial loss of alkaline phosphatase activity in a poorly defined area, ie, degeneration of some capillary segments) and focal (complete degeneration of choriocapillaris or loss of alkaline phosphatase activity in a relatively well-defined area). The mean±SD percentage of the choroid with focal CCD in group 1 was 5.08±1.13% of the total choroidal area vs 1.16±0.35% in group 2 (P<.001). Focal CCD in group 1 was more prominent in the posterior pole than in the peripheral choroid. Choroidal neovascularization was associated with some areas of diffuse CCD in group 1. Pathologic changes in Bruch's membrane–like basal laminar deposits were often associated with CCD; the thickness of the deposits was greater in group 1 than in group 2 and greater in areas with focal CCD than in areas with diffuse or no CCD.
Conclusion The percentage of choroid with focal CCD in group 1 choroids was more than 4-fold greater than that in nondiabetic choroids. The presence of CCD was related to basal laminar deposits and, in some cases, to choroidal neovascularization.
From the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Retinal Thickness and Subnormal Retinal Oxygenation Response in Experimental Diabetic Retinopathy
Luan et al.
IOVS 2006;47:320-328.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Aberrant Accumulation of Fibulin-3 in the Endoplasmic Reticulum Leads to Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response and VEGF Expression
Roybal et al.
IOVS 2005;46:3973-3979.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Neutrophils Are Associated With Capillary Closure in Spontaneously Diabetic Monkey Retinas
Kim et al.
Diabetes 2005;54:1534-1542.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Towards optimal filtering of "standard" multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) recordings: findings in normal and diabetic subjects
Han et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2004;88:543-550.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Multifocal Electroretinogram Delays Predict Sites of Subsequent Diabetic Retinopathy
Han et al.
IOVS 2004;45:948-954.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Retinal Function in Normal and Diabetic Eyes Mapped with the Slow Flash Multifocal Electroretinogram
Bearse et al.
IOVS 2004;45:296-304.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Quantifying Changes in RPE and Choroidal Vasculature in Eyes with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
McLeod et al.
IOVS 2002;43:1986-1993.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Extensive Deposits of Complement C3d and C5b-9 in the Choriocapillaris of Eyes of Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy
Gerl et al.
IOVS 2002;43:1104-1108.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Selective Loss of S-Cones in Diabetic Retinopathy
Cho et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2000;118:1393-1400.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Multifocal Electroretinogram Delays Reveal Local Retinal Dysfunction in Early Diabetic Retinopathy
Fortune et al.
IOVS 1999;40:2638-2651.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
