Elucidation of the pathogenesis of macular edema and identification of prognostic factors

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18333
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Asahikawa Medical College
• Principal Investigator: Ono Shinji 旭川医科大学, その他, 客員講師 (50571890)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 加齢黄斑変性 / 脈絡膜体積 / OCT Angiography

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We used OCT and OCT Angiography to evaluate changes in choroidal microcirculation before and after photodynamic therapy in age-related macular degeneration, a major disease that causes macular edema, using a novel algorithm. In addition, we conducted a follow-up survey for 1 year after treatment, and examined whether there was a difference in the recurrence rate between the group that underwent photodynamic therapy at the normal dose (regular dose group) and the group that underwent the half dose (half dose group). As a result, it was found that photodynamic therapy altered choroidal microcirculation, and the alterations persisted up to 1 year after treatment. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in recurrence rates between the normal dose group and the half dose group. I made a conference presentation and submitted a paper on the above findings.

Free Research Field

網脈絡膜循環

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

加齢黄斑変性は黄斑浮腫や出血を繰返し、視機能が低下する疾患である。加齢黄斑変性の治療の中心は抗VEGF薬の硝子体内注射であるが、薬剤は高額で複数回投与が必要なため、経済的・時間的負担が大きい。近年、加齢黄斑変性の病態に脈絡膜が深く関与していることが明らかとなり、脈絡膜に作用する光線力学的療法(PDT)が注目されているが、いまだその治療法は標準化されていない。
本研究の意義は加齢黄斑変性に対してPDTを施行し、OCT Angiographyを用いて網脈絡膜循環の観点からその作用と治療効果を明らかとしたことである。また、複数のプロトコルでPDTを行っており、治療の最適化の一助となるものである。