Angiographic Signatures of the Predominant Form of Familial Transthyretin Amyloidosis (Val30Met Mutation)

Abstract

Purpose: To describe abnormalities in choroidal and retinal vasculature associated with Val30Met familial transthyretin amyloidosis (V30M-FTA) using fluorescein and indocyanine green (ICG) angiography.

Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study.

Methods: This study was conducted at the French National Reference Center for FTA. We included 18 consecutive genetically confirmed V30M-FTA patients (36 eyes) who underwent complete neurologic examination, including staging with polyneuropathy disability (PND) score, and complete ophthalmic evaluation, including staging of intraocular amyloid deposits and fluorescein and ICG angiograms (ICG-A). The grading of choroidal and retinal angiopathy, and their association with neurologic functional impairment, were the main outcome measures.

Results: Eleven men and 7 women, mean age 61.6 ± 12.1 years, were included. Retinal amyloid angiopathy (RAA) was detected in 24 eyes (92%) of 13 patients, with microaneurysms, retinal hemorrhages, and retinal ischemia of variable extent. Three patients (5 eyes) had neovascular glaucoma and 2 (2 eyes) had preretinal neovascularization. ICG-A indicated choroidal amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in all patients, with 3 distinct patterns-diffuse (9/18 patients), focal (5/18 patients), or punctiform (4/18 patients)-based on the extent of late hypercyanescence along the choroidal arteries. PND scores were significantly higher in patients with diffuse CAA (firework pattern) compared to those with limited CAA (focal and punctiform patterns) (2.89 vs 1.78, P = .045).

Conclusion: RAA is a frequent and severe complication of V30M-FTA that may lead to anterior and posterior segment neovascularization. CAA was detected in all patients, with a late hypercyanescent delineation of the choroidal arterial vasculature, which was more extensive with increased disease severity.