Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Abnormal fundus autofluorescence in relation to retinal function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Fundus autofluorescence (AF) in some patients with retinitis pigmentosa is characterized by a parafoveal ring of increased AF which surrounds the centre as hypofluorescent changes appear at the periphery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the AF patterns in relation to retinal function measured by electroretinography and visual fields.

Methods

Thirty-two patients with RP were included in the study. AF imaging of the macular area was performed with the scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Patients were divided in two groups according to their fundus AF patterns. All patients from group 1 had a ring of increased AF of different size but no atrophic areas inside vascular arcades. Patients with a ring of increased AF and round atrophic changes at different eccentricities from their fovea were selected in group 2. Visual fields were tested with kinetic, automated perimetry and microperimetry; the radius of the hyperfluorescent ring and the smallest distance of hypofluorescent areas from the fovea were compared to visual fields, PERG P50 and N95 and mfERG P1 amplitudes of the inner three rings.

Results

A linear relationship was found in group 1 between the radius of the ring of increased AF and both the automated (r=0.82) and kinetic perimetry (r=0.80). The radius of the AF ring correlated highly with the PERG P50 (r=0.72) and N95 (r=0.74) amplitudes. In all patients, mfERG responses were reduced at all retinal locations, more pronounced at periphery. There was a good correlation between the ring of increased AF and the P1 amplitude of ring 2 of mfERG (r=0.62). Patients from group 2 had significantly reduced or non-recordable PERGs and mfERGs. The eccentricities of hypofluorescent changes did not correlate with any type of perimetry.

Conclusions

Our results show that in stages of retinitis pigmentosa, before atrophic lesions spread inside the vascular arcades, the pattern of fundus autofluorescence correlates well with functional tests such as perimetry and electroretinography. The ring of increased AF appears to represent the border between functional and dysfunctional retina. This shows that autofluorescence, as a quick and non-invasive imaging tool, may be related to retinal function as well.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Adler R (1996) Mechanisms of photoreceptor death in retinal degenerations. Arch Ophthalmol 114:79–83

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bach M, Hawlina M, Holder GE, Marmor MF, Meigen T, Vaegan, Miyake Y (2000) Standard for pattern electroretinography. Doc Ophthalmol 99:11–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Besch D, Zrenner E (2003) Prevention and therapy in hereditary retinal degenerations. Doc Ophthalmol 106:31–35

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Delori FC, Dorey CK, Staurenghi G et al. (1995) In vivo fluorescence of the ocular fundus exhibits retinal pigment epithelium lipofuscin characteristics. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 36:718–729

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Delori FC, Staurenghi G, Arend O, Dorey CK et al. (1995) In vivo measurement of lipofuscin in Stargardt’s disease- fundus flavimaculatus. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 36:2327–2331

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Delori FC, Goger DG, Dorey CK (2001) Age-related accumulation and spatial distribution of lipofuscin in RPE in normal subjects. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 42:1855–1866

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dorey CK, Wu G, Ebenstein D, Garsd A, Weiter JJ (1989) Cell loss in the aging retina. Relationship to lipofuscin accumulation and macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:1691–1699

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hawlina M, Konec B (1992) New noncorneal HK-loop electrode for clinical electroretinography. Doc Ophthalmol 81:253–259

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hawlina M, Jarc M, Popovic P (1998) Pattern ERG is preserved in retinitis pigmentosa—a follow up study. Electroncephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 106:46

    Google Scholar 

  10. Holder GE (2001) Pattern electroretinography (PERG) and an integrated approach to visual pathway diagnosis. Prog Retin Eye Res 20:531–561

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Holder GE, Robson AG, Hogg CR, Kurz-Levin M, Lois N, Bird AC (2003) Pattern ERG: clinical overview, and some observations on associated fundus autofluorescence imaging in inherited maculopathy. Doc Ophthalmol 106:17–23

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Holz FG (2001) Autofluorescenz-imaging der Makula. Ophthalmologe: 98:10–18

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hood DC (2000) Assessing retinal function with the multifocal technique. Prog Ret Eye Res 19:607–646

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hood DC, Frishman LJ, Saszik S, Viswanathan S (2002) Retinal origins of the primate multifocal ERG: Implications for the human response. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 43:1673–1685

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kennedy CJ, Rakoczy PE, Constable IJ (1995) Lipofuscin of the retinal pigment epithelium: a review. Eye 9:763–771

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Lorenz B, Wabbels B, Wegscheider E, Hamel CP, Drexler W, Preising MN (2004) Lack of fundus autofluorescence to 488 nanometers from childhood on in patients with early-onset severe retinal dystrophy associated with mutations in RPE65. Ophthalmology 111:1585–1594

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Marmor MF, Hood DC, Keating D, Kondo M, Seeliger MW, Miyake Y (2003) Guidelines for basic multifocal electroretinography (mfERG). Doc Ophthalmol 106:105–115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Popović P, Jarc-Vidmar M, Brecelj J, Hawlina M (2002) Pattern electroretinography in relation to perimetry and visual acuity in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Zdrav Vestn 71:119–124

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rohrschneider K, Bültmann S, Kiel R, Weimar P, Krastel H, Blankenagel A (2002) Diagnostik bei Netzhauterkrankungen. Vergleich von multifokalem ERG und funduskontrollierter Perimetrie—Fallstudie. Ophthalmologe 99:695–702

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Robson AG, El-Amir A, Bailey C, Egan CA, Fitzke FW, Webster AR, Bird AC, Holder GE (2003) Pattern ERG correlates of abnormal fundus autofluorescence in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and normal visual acuity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 44:3544–3550

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Robson AG, Egan CA, Luong VA, Bird AC, Holder GE, Fitzke FW (2004) Comparison of fundus autofluorescence with photopic and scotopic fine-matrix mapping in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and normal visual acuity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 45:4119–4125

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Robson AG, Egan CA, Bird AC, Fitzke FW, Holder GE (2003) Multi-focal ERG, pattern ERG and psychophysical correlates of fundus autofluorescence abnormalities in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 44:E-Abstract 535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Ross DF, Fishmann GA, Gilbert LD (1984) Variability of visual field measurements in normal subjects and patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Arch Ophthalomol 102:1004–1010

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. von Rückmann A, Fitzke FW, Bird AC (1995) Distribution of fundus autofluorescence with scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Br J Ophthalmol 79:407–412

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. von Rückmann A, Fitzke FW, Bird AC (1997) In vivo fundus autofluorescence in macular dystrophies. Arch Ophthalmol 115:609–615

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. von Rückmann A, Fitzke FW, Bird AC (1999) Distribution of pigment epithelium autofluorescence in retinal disease state recorded in vivo and its change over time. Graefe’s Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 237:1–9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Scholl HP, Chong NH, Robson AG, Holder GE, Moore AT, Bird AC (2004) Fundus autofluorescence in patients with Leber congenital amaurosis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 45:2747–2752

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wegscheider E, Preising MN, Lorenz B (2004) Fundus autofluorescence in carriers of X-linked recessive retinitis pigmentosa associated with mutations in RPGR, and correlation with electrophysiological and psychophysical data. Graefe’s Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 242:501–511

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Wong F (1995) Photoreceptor apoptosis in animal models. Implications for retinitis pigmentosa research. Arch Ophthalmol 113:1245–1247

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the grant of Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of Republic of Slovenia No. J3-4393. and was in part presented at 2004 ARVO meeting, Fort Lauderdale, USA. Authors are grateful to Dr. Jelka Brecelj for valuable comments and advice and to Barbara Klemenc for technical support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Eye Clinic, Medical Center Ljubljana, Zaloska 29a, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Petra Popović, Martina Jarc-Vidmar & Marko Hawlina

Authors
  1. Petra Popović
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martina Jarc-Vidmar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marko Hawlina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Petra Popović.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Popović, P., Jarc-Vidmar, M. & Hawlina, M. Abnormal fundus autofluorescence in relation to retinal function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmo 243, 1018–1027 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-1186-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-1186-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation