Reticular pseudodrusen in AMD more common than previously believed
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KOLOA, Hawaii — Reticular pseudodrusen in eyes with age-related macular degeneration is a more common phenotype than previously believed, according to a speaker here.
“I think RPD is a very critical thing that ties into AMD,” Robyn Guymer, MD, said at Retina 2023. “In the clinics, we somewhat overlook it probably because it isn’t making much of a difference to our decision-making at the moment. But I’m sure in the near future it will, particularly as we start to get treatments for the atrophic form of AMD.”
An international consensus on the clinical definition of eyes with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) is necessary, Guymer said, as it will facilitate research and improve the generalizability of study results. Additionally, reticular pseudodrusen increases the risk for late AMD development, particularly in patients with geographic atrophy.
“The imaging modality and the color fundus photo is very problematic in finding RPD,” Guymer said. “They are often misinterpreted as small drusen.”
Guymer said that study results indicate that the effects of treatment in early AMD may differ if pseudodrusen are present.
“From the histology, it looks like there are certainly [retinal pigment epithelium] dysfunction and some altered immune function implicated in the pathogenesis of RPD,” she said. “To try and further our understanding, we have an international genetic cohort study where we’re collecting cases of cohorts where RPD is being defined to try and work out a greater genetic signal.”
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Guymer R. Reticular pseudodrusen — A critical phenotype in AMD. Presented at: Retina 2023; Jan. 15-20, 2023; Koloa, Hawaii.
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