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Biomarkers in Diabetes pp 1–14Cite as

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography for Biomarker Indices in Diabetes

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Part of the Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications book series (BDMDA)

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) visualizes the structure and flow of retinal vasculature using motion contrast. Diabetic retinopathy (DR), commonly present in one-third of the patients with diabetes, is a major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus caused by retinal ischemia and vascular hyperpermeability. Microvasculature changes, such as foveal avascular zone enlargement and decrease in vascular density of the deep capillary plexus, have been identified in diabetic eyes without clinical retinopathy. OCTA of nonproliferative DR shows morphologically well-defined microaneurysms and intraretinal vascular shunts around perfusion dropouts at the deep capillary plexus level. In proliferative DR, OCTA visualizes detailed features and extent of neovascularization in response to anti-vascular endothelial factor and laser treatment. Diabetes-induced microvascular changes can be quantified by OCTA, and significant correlations have been shown with serum biomarkers representing pancreatic β-cell function and insulin sensitivity. Compared to conventional fluorescein angiography, OCTA can be performed more safely in patients with impaired renal function and can provide high-contrast vascular images. OCTA limitations on projection artifacts, segmentation errors, and data differences between equipment remain to be addressed.

Keywords

  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Foveal avascular zone
  • Neovascularization
  • Optical coherence tomography angiography
  • Vascular density

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Abbreviations

DM:

Diabetes mellitus

DME:

Diabetic macular edema

DR:

Diabetic retinopathy

FAZ:

Foveal avascular zone

FFA:

Fluorescein angiography

HbA1c:

Glycated hemoglobin

HOMA:

Homeostasis model assessment

ILM:

Inner limiting membrane

NPDR:

Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy

OCT:

Optical coherence tomography

OCTA:

Optical coherence tomography angiography

ONH:

Optic nerve head

PDR:

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy

PRP:

Panretinal photocoagulation

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Eun Young Choi & Min Kim

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  1. Eun Young Choi
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  2. Min Kim
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Correspondence to Min Kim .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Dr. Vinood B. Patel

  2. Franklin-Wilkins Bldg, Rm 4.101, 4th Fl, Kings Coll London, Sch Biomed Health Sci, London, UK

    Prof. Dr. Victor R. Preedy

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Choi, E.Y., Kim, M. (2022). Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography for Biomarker Indices in Diabetes. In: Patel, V.B., Preedy, V.R. (eds) Biomarkers in Diabetes. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81303-1_39-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81303-1_39-1

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