CHOROIDAL VASCULARITY INDEX IS ASSOCIATED WITH GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY PROGRESSION

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between choroidal vascularity index and the enlargement of geographic atrophy (GA) lesion secondary to age-related macular degeneration during the 2-year follow-up. Methods: In this longitudinal observational study, 26 eyes (26 patients, mean age 75.7 +/- 8.8 years) affected by GA were included. Choroidal vascularity index was calculated in the subfoveal 3000-mu m area. The main outcome measure included correlation analysis between baseline choroidal vascularity index and the rate of GA enlargement. Results: During the 2-year follow-up, the mean GA area increased from 6.99 +/- 5.28 mm(2) to 10.69 +/- 6.61 mm(2)(P < 0.001), accounting for a growth rate of 0.35 +/- 0.20 and 0.31 +/- 0.17 mm/year after the square root transformation in the first and second year of follow-up, respectively. Stromal choroidal area significantly decreased during the 2-year follow-up (P = 0.002). Interestingly, there was a significant correlation between the baseline choroidal vascularity index and the rate of GA enlargement (r=-0.432, P = 0.027) and between stromal choroidal area and the rate of GA enlargement (r = 0.422, P = 0.032). No other significant relationship was disclosed among choroidal parameters with the rate of GA enlargement. Conclusion: Choroidal vascularity index impairment is strictly related to the rate of GA enlargement during the 1-year and 2-year follow-up in patients affected by GA. For this reason, choroidal vascularity index could be considered a predictor of GA progression in the clinical setting, and it could be considered as a new potential biomarker in the efficacy evaluation of new GA interventions.

Automated summary

The study revealed a close correlation between choroidal vascularity index and the rate of geographic atrophy (GA) enlargement. Choroidal vascularity index could be considered a predictor of GA progression and a potential biomarker for evaluating the efficacy of new interventions for GA.