Influence of CNV vascular morphology in exudative age-related macular degeneration on development of visual acuity and need for anti-VEGF therapy after 1 year

Background The aim of this pilot study was to investigate vascular morphological characteristics of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) at the time of the initial diagnosis of exudative age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), which enable a prognosis for the development of visual acuity and the necessity for treatment in the first year. Methods In 57 patients with the initial diagnosis of nAMD, CNV was detected by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and an automated quantitative vessel analysis was performed with respect to area, total vessel length, flow value and average vessel caliber of the CNV. After 12 months patients were divided into 2 groups based on visual acuity (visual loss vs. visual gain) and necessity of anti-VEGF therapy (<7 intravitreal injections, IVOM vs. >= 7 IVOM). Results The mean CNV area was 0.95 mm(2) +/- 1.07 mm(2)(group visual loss 1.56 mm(2) +/- 1.54 mm(2); group visual gain 0.65 mm(2) +/- 0.53 mm(2);p = 0.002/<7 IVOM 1.05 mm(2) +/- 1.40 mm(2); >= 7 IVOM 0.98 mm(2) +/- 0.94 mm(2),p = 0.60). The average total vessel length of the CNV was 9.84 mm +/- 11.35 mm (visual loss 16.00 mm +/- 16.58 mm; visual gain 6.74 mm +/- 5.42 mm;p < 0.003/p = 0.68). The mean flow value of the CNV was 0.40 +/- 0.06 (visual loss 0.37 +/- 0.04; visual gain 0.41 +/- 0.07;p = 0.004/p = 0.02). The average vessel caliber was 28.86 mu m +/- 2.93 mu m (visual loss 28.39 mu m +/- 2.97 mm; visual gain 29.32 mu m +/- 3.05 mu m;p = 0.24/p = 0.02). Conclusion The results show that a mathematical quantification of the CNV in nAMD is possible using OCT-A. This analysis confirmed again that the size of the CNV (area and total vessel length) is decisive for the prognosis of visual acuity. It also shows that a larger flow value as a sign of a well-differentiated CNV is associated with a better functional prognosis. The number of IVOMs required, however, depends primarily on the composition of the CNV (flow value and vascular caliber). More precise imaging and larger examination cohorts could possibly reveal further relevant biomarkers.