Resilience of the Photoreceptors in Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy Observed by Microperimetry over Time

ABSTRACT

Aims

To analyze the morphological and functional findings using microperimetry and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE).

Methods

This retrospective observational case series included four eyes of two patients with APMPPE. Best-corrected visual acuity range was from 20/20 to 20/250. Microperimetry and OCTA evaluation were obtained in the acute and healed phase. The OCTA images of the choriocapillaris were superimposed on the microperimetry map at the last visit.

Results

The retinal sensitivity improved between the baseline and the last visit in three out of the four eyes. At resolution phase, OCTA revealed zones with choriocapillaris flow deficit, which were associated with points of reduced retinal sensitivity.

Conclusions

Microperimetry allows for a better evaluation of the extent of the unhealed functional defect in eyes with AMPPE. The multimodal imaging showed that structural and functional findings were associated in the resolution phase.

KEYWORDS:

• Optical coherence tomography
• optical coherence tomography angiography
• microperimetry
• acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy
• retinal sensitivity

Acknowledgments

The research for this paper was financially supported by Italian Ministry of Health and Fondazione Roma.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Dr. Scarinci has nothing to disclose; Dr. Varano reports personal fees from Allergan, Bayer, Novartis and SIFI outside the submitted work; Dr. Parravano reports personal fees from Allergan, Novartis and Bayer outside the submitted work.

Data availability

The multimodal images and demographic as well as clinical data used to support the findings of this study are included in the article. All authors had full access to all data in this study and take full responsibility for integrity of the data and accuracy of the data analysis. Further information is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Authorship

All authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship, take responsibility for integrity of the research, and approve the final version.

Compliance with ethics guidelines

The study was approved by our institutional review board and conducted in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.