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Phenotyping, biomarkers help predict diabetic retinopathy progression
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 José Cunha-Vaz |
MILAN, Italy — Multimodal macula mapping helps predict disease progression and set treatment goals for nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, according to a speaker here.
“Diabetic retinopathy has different evolution in different patients in spite of similar metabolic control and duration of the disease,” José Cunha-Vaz, MD, PhD, said during the Bietti Medal Lecture at the annual joint meeting of OSN and the Italian Society of Ophthalmology. “Multimodal macula mapping has enabled us to identify three different phenotypes of progression, showing different risks of development of the major complications of [diabetic retinopathy], macular edema and proliferative retinopathy.”
Phenotype A includes eyes with a low rate of aneurism formation, normal retinal thickness values and minimal progression over time. Phenotype B includes eyes with persistently high leakage values and/or increased retinal thickness. Phenotype C is highly predictive of the development of clinically significant macular edema requiring treatment.
The most significant biomarker of diabetic retinopathy progression is the determination of microaneurysm turnover that can be obtained by automated analysis of fundus digital images.
“Phenotyping and biomarkers allow a personalized approach to [nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy] management, to prevent or at least minimize complications,” Dr. Cunha-Vaz said.
Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness worldwide, and diabetes is on the increase. Approximately 10% of people are currently affected, and 6% of these individuals develop severe visual loss.