Progression characteristics of ellipsoid zone loss in macular telangiectasia type 2

Acta Ophthalmol. 2019 Nov;97(7):e998-e1005. doi: 10.1111/aos.14110. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the progression characteristics of ellipsoid zone (EZ) loss in eyes with macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel) as reflected by area and linear measurements, and their relevance for visual acuity.

Methods: Participants were selected from the MacTel Study cohort. Linear and area measurements of EZ loss were performed in Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomograph (SD-OCT) volume scans. Progression characteristics and correlations between linear and area measurements were analysed using linear mixed effects models.

Results: A total of 134 eyes of 70 patients were included (85 eyes with follow-up, mean 4.7 years, range: 1.4-8 years). Ellipsoid zone (EZ) loss significantly progressed at a mean annual increment of 0.057 mm2 (p = 0.005). The progression rate was non-linear and interacted significantly with initial EZ lesion size indicating an exponential growth before reaching a plateau. There was a strong heterogeneity in area sizes between fellow eyes. EZ break length had a significant linear effect on EZ break area (b = 1.06, p < 0.001) and could predict it. The location of the EZ break had a significant impact on visual acuity.

Conclusion: Ellipsoid zone (EZ) loss in MacTel has a non-linear progression characteristic, and its rate depends on area size at baseline, which must be taken into account at sample selection in clinical trials. Our results show a good correlation of linear and area measures of EZ loss and a segregation of best-corrected visual acuity by EZ location, which may help routine clinical practice.

Keywords: OCT; MacTel; ellipsoid zone; en face image; macular telangiectasia type 2.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography / methods*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Humans
  • Macula Lutea / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / pathology
  • Retinal Telangiectasis / diagnosis*
  • Retinal Vessels / pathology*
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*
  • Visual Acuity*