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Fluorescein angiography still plays a crucial role in evaluation, management
 Barbara Blodi |
VIENNA, Austria — In the era of optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography still plays a role in baseline evaluation of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and in the long-term management of diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion, according to a specialist speaking at the Advanced Retinal Therapy meeting here.
"In neovascular AMD, angiographic imaging of choroidal new vessels remains a clinically important baseline test. It helps to define lesion characteristics, lesion component and lesion area," Barbara Blodi, MD, said.
These data were required by all major AMD trials, including MARINA, ANCHOR and CATT, to assess patient eligibility.
"High-resolution OCT can see if there is neovascular tissue, retinal fluid, but it's hard to localize [choroidal neovascularization] components without the angiogram," she said.
OCT is currently the preferred method to diagnose and monitor patients with diabetic macular edema.
"But there are times when we need the angiography," Dr. Blodi said. "Angiography can assess the area and source of leakage and identify areas of non-perfusion. And we know that we might have macular ischemia as well as macular edema simultaneously, and you won't see the ischemia on OCT."
In retinal vein occlusion, just as in diabetic retinopathy, fluorescein angiography allows the identification of areas of non-perfusion.
"Foveal ischemia is a risk factor for neovascularization and may limit the visual prognosis in these patients. In addition, there is now more information that peripheral ischemia is also a potential risk factor for recurrent macular edema," Dr. Blodi said.
- Disclosures: Dr. Blodi has no relevant financial disclosures.