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. 2019 Dec 20;7(24):4324-4328.
doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2019.384. eCollection 2019 Dec 30.

Clinical Characteristics and Histopathology of Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane in Vietnam

Nguyen Dinh Ngan  1   2 , Nguyen Van Cuong  1 , Nguyen Le Trung  1 , Dang Tran Dat  3 , Hoang Anh Tuan  3 , Pham Ngoc Dong  3 , Vu Thi Nga  4 , Nguyen Duy Bac  5 , Cung Le Xuan  3
Affiliations

Clinical Characteristics and Histopathology of Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane in Vietnam

Nguyen Dinh Ngan et al. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. .

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) is an avascular proliferation of different types of cells between the posterior vitreous cortex and the internal limiting membrane. That causes visual impairment including blurry, distortion, scotoma. Many studies of iERM were done to describe the clinical characteristics and investigate the histopathology of this disease. Nonetheless, there has not been a study of iERM histopathology in Vietnam.

Aim: To describe clinical characteristics and histopathological results of idiopathic retinal membrane and the association between them.

Methods: A cross sectional decriptive study of 35 iERMs (33 patients) in Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology (VNIO).

Results: High morbidity incidence was in group age >50 years (32/35), female gender (26/35), limited movement works (27/35), and high educational levels (28/35). Distortion was the highest (77.14%), scotoma and floater was less frequent (28.5%, 45.7%). Macular edema in all cases and PVD and exudate were high frequent (65.7%, 62.8%). Symptom duration was 8.2 ± 4.7 months, (1-21 months). Mean of central macular thickness was 468.51 ± 97.24 µm (656-274 µm). Six types of cell were detected, including glial cell (35/35), fibroblast (23/35), myofibroblast (23/35), macrophage (13/35), lymphocyte (5/35) and neutrophil (2/35). The number of cell types in one sample ranged from 1-5 types (2.85 ± 1.28 cell types). Number of cell types were correlated to symptom duration (r = 0.47, p = 0.004, Pearson's test) and central macular thickness (r = 0.72, p < 0.001, Pearson's test).

Conclusion: There were 6 types of cells in iERM. Glial cell was the most frequent cell, inflammatory cells (macrophage, lymphocyte, neutrophil) was also detected. The number of cell types was stastitically correlated to symptom duration and CMT.

Keywords: Histopathology; Idiopathic epiretinal membrane; iERM.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of symptom duration of iERM
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of central macular thickness in OCT
Figure 3
Figure 3
A) sparse density; B) dense density
Figure 4
Figure 4
The cell types in our study sample; A) fibroblast; B) myofibroblast; C) macrophage; D) neutrophil; E) lymphocyte; F) glial cell
Figure 5
Figure 5
Association between number of cell types in a sample and symptom duration and central macular thickness
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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