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. 2024 Jul 24;16(3):594-601.
doi: 10.3390/pediatric16030050.

Predictive Role of Fluorescein Angiography in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Gianluca Dini  1 , Alfredo Beccasio  2 , Francesco Della Lena  2 , Alberto Verrotti  1 , Carlo Cagini  2
Affiliations

Predictive Role of Fluorescein Angiography in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Gianluca Dini et al. Pediatr Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Fluorescein angiography (FA) has been a pivotal tool for studying the pathophysiology of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in vivo. We examined the course of ROP using FA to assess the predictive value of angiographic features.

Methods: This is an observational retrospective cohort study of eyes screened for ROP with a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope and FA. RetCam fundus imaging and video digital fluorescein angiography were performed in the neonatal intensive care unit of Santa Maria Hospital of Perugia. The masked grading of the FA images was retrospectively conducted by two ROP expert ophthalmologists.

Results: A total of 80 eyes of 40 patients were included for this study. Among the angiographic features evaluated, leakage, shunts, and tangles were predictive of the development of treatment-requiring ROP (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: FA can add to our understanding of the evolution of vascular abnormalities in the course of ROP and can help predict which eyes will go on to treatment.

Keywords: fluorescein angiography; neonatal care; retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Fluorescein angiography abnormalities within vascularized retina. (A) Absence of foveal avascular zone, (B) presence of foveal avascular zone, (C) linear pattern of choroidal vascular circulation, (D) lobular pattern of choroidal vascular circulation, (E) hypofluorescent area surrounded by hyperfluorescence, (F) hypofluorescent area without surrounding hyperfluorescence.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fluorescein angiography abnormalities at the junction between the vascular and avascular retina. (A) Finger-like vascular branching pattern, (B) naked arteriovenous shunt, (C) capillary tangles, (D) hyperfluorescent lesions, (E) perivascular dye leakage, (F) capillary obliteration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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