Use of VESsel GENeration with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Fluorescein Angiography for Detection and Quantification of Vascular Changes in Mild and Moderate Diabetic Retinopathy
Mariana DuPont,
Edmund Arthur,
Yazen Shihab,
Madelyn Kenny,
Swetha Ravichandran,
Patricia Parsons-Wingerter,
Ruchi Vyas,
Matthew C. Murray,
Marina Predovic,
Shiyin Lim,
Nicole Jacobs,
Sneha Ramesh,
Amanda Vu,
Srinivaas Sekaran,
Kakarla V. Chalam,
Ramana S. Moorthy,
Jason Crosson,
John Mason,
Maria B. Grant
Affiliations
Mariana DuPont
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Edmund Arthur
School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Yazen Shihab
Birmingham School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
Madelyn Kenny
School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Swetha Ravichandran
School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Patricia Parsons-Wingerter
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Washington, DC 20546, USA
Ruchi Vyas
Mori Associates, Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
Matthew C. Murray
Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
Marina Predovic
Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
Shiyin Lim
Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
Nicole Jacobs
Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
Sneha Ramesh
Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
Amanda Vu
Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
Srinivaas Sekaran
Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
Kakarla V. Chalam
Department of Ophthalmology, Loma Linda University Health Care, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
Ramana S. Moorthy
Associated Vitreoretinal and Uveitis Consultants, Indianapolis, IN 46290, USA
Jason Crosson
Retina Consultants of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
John Mason
Retina Consultants of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
Maria B. Grant
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
(1) Background: Previously, VESsel GENeration (VESGEN) software was used to map and quantify vascular changes observed on fluorescein angiography (FA) in subjects (n = 15 eyes) with retinal pathology ranging from mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In the current study, we used VESGEN for the assessment of individuals with early-stage NPDR imaged by FA (Cohort 1) and by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA; Cohort 2). (2) Methods: Cohort 1 included type 2 diabetics (T2D), represented 21 eyes (ranging from no DR to moderate DR), and also included nondiabetic controls (NDC; n = 15 eyes). Cohort 2 consisted of 23 eyes from T2D subjects (including no DR subjects and moderate DR subjects) and NDC (n = 18 eyes). (3) Results: In the FA-VESGEN study, total tortuosity (Tv) of microvessels (G ≥ 6) increased in T2D with mild DR compared to the controls. In contrast, the VESGEN analysis of OCTA images showed that vessel length (characterized as density) was lower in T2D subjects before the diagnosis of DR and following the diagnosis of DR when compared to the controls. Additionally, T2D showed a significant decrease in vessel area (density). (4) Conclusions: FA elucidated the vessel morphology of small-generation microvessels to a greater degree than OCTA; however, OCTA identified changes in vessel density better than FA. VESGEN analysis can be used with both standard FA and OCTA to facilitate our understanding of early events in DR, including before the clinical diagnosis of DR.
