International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology

ISSN: 2577-140X

Review Article

Treatment of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachment

Ayse Gul Kocak Altintas^1* and Cagri Ilhan²

*Address for Correspondence: Ayse Gul Kocak Altintas, MD, Associated Professor, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Ulucanlar Eye Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Tel: 90-312-3126261; Fax: 90-312-3124827; Email: aysegulkaltintas@hotmail.com

Dates: Submitted: 15 March 2018; Approved: 22 March 2018; Published: 23 March 2018

How to cite this article: Altintas AGK, Ilhan C. Treatment of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachment. Int J Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2018; 2: 008-014. DOI: 10.29328/journal.ijceo.1001013

Copyright: © 2018 Altintas AGK, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords: Aflibercept; Bevacizumab; Pigment epithelial detachment; Ranibizumab 

Anatomical separation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from the Bruch membrane is defined as retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED). Several degenerative and idiopathic ocular conditions and many systemic etiologies including renal, inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, and iatrogenic reasons cause PED [1]. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common reason of PED and it can be associated with underlying choroidal neovascularization (CNV) [1]. The presence of PED associated with AMD is classified as drusenoid, serous, vascularized, or mixed according to different clinical and imaging findings. We aimed in this manuscript, to give a general information about different characteristics of PEDs and to investigate the treatment strategies in the light of current literature.

Classification of pigment epithelial detachments

Drusenoid PED is associated with confluent soft drusen and it comprises a high risk for dry AMD.Confluent soft drusen areas and sub-RPE space enlarge because stressed RPE is unable to remove fluid and debris [2].Fundoscopic appearing of drusenoid PED cannot be distinguished from large soft or confluent drusen which have scalloped border and a slightly irregular surface. Smooth contour of the detached hyperreflective RPE band and hyporeflective area beneath the RPE are occurred in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and it is generally not associated with intraretinal or subretinal fluid. Figure 1 shows an OCT image section and macular thickness map of drusenoid PED (Figure 1). DrusenoidPED typically isofluorescent or hyperautofluorescent in fundus autofluorescence (FAF) [3]. On fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), it usually shows faint hyperfluorescence correspond to the window defect and focal hypofluorescence correspond to the blockage effect. With indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), drusenoid PED appears as a homogeneous hypoflueorescent lesion [4].

According to Casswell et al., study, anatomical and visual outcomes of drusenoid PEDs are better than other types of PEDs [5]. The chance of spontaneous resolution of drusenoid PED with a legacy of RPE atrophy is high [6].

Serous PED is caused by fluid collection between RPE and Bruch membrane and it occurs as sharply demarcated elevations of the RPE. The reasons of fluid collection are increased choriocapillaris leakage and decreased RPE pump function. AMD and central serous chorioretinopathy are two of the most common diseases associated with serous PED [7,8].The classical fundus finding of serous PED is distinct circular ovoid elevation. The typical well-demarcated, dome-shaped elevation that is characteristic finding of serous PED are best seen in OCT. In FAF, serous PED is seen hyperautofluorescence in hypoautofluorescence border [9]. It is determined with early hyperfluorescence and progressive well-demarcated pooling in the area of PED, by FFA. Serous PED is seen hypofluorescent in ICGA. The possibility of spontaneous resolution with pigment epithelial atrophy is higher in serous PED developed secondary to central serous chorioretinopathy than AMD.

Vascularized PED is mostly associated with type 1 or occult CNV but any other subfoveal pathologies can be associated with it. In clinical examination, vascularized PED is appeared as irregular solid elevation of the RPE with or without intraretinal exudates. In OCT evaluation, solid, fluidly and hyperreflective material along the back surface of RPE, is found [10]. Figure 2 shows intraretinal and subretinalhyporeflective spaces in OCT section in case of vascularized PED (Figure 2). FAF signals are increased in vascularized PED due to its hyperrefletive solid components [9]. According to FFA, there are two types of occult CNV including fibrovascular PED and vascularized PED which characterized with late-phase leakage [11,12]. In ICGA, it is shown late hyperfluorescence with the presence of occult CNV [12]. According to ICGA, hyperfluorescent area is descripted in two forms such as a hot spot which is smaller than 1 disc diameter and plaque which is larger than 1 disc diameter.

Vascularized PEDs have increased risk of developing to disciform scarin natural course [13]. RPE tear is occurred about 10% this rate can be accelerated after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy [5,14].

The natural course of vascularized PED is progressive visual loss which can be occurred suddenly due to hemorrhage or RPE tear. The risk of vision loss is high in vascularized PED [1]. Generally, FFA is inadequate to differentiate of serous and vascularized PED because both of them have the characteristics of early hyperfluorescence and late staining. ICGA is a benefit method in differential diagnose. Early hyperfluorescence and very slow staining are occurred in serous PED while rapidly hyperfluorescence and evident staining are occurred in vascularized PED [15]. After the correct differential diagnosis, treatment is necessary due to possible poor prognosis of vascularized PED.

Treatment is not necessary for some cases in these situations including absence of symptoms and good visual acuity. This strategy is rational when considering the potential complications of treatment methods that can be very devastating such as macular scar due to retinal photocoagulation, or endophthalmitis due to intravitreal injection etc. Baba et al., reported that avascular PEDs had a better visual acuity and intravitreal anti-VEGF is not quietly useful in these cases [16]. Because, fluid accumulation between RPE and choriocapillaris caused by hydrophobic barrier of Bruch’s membrane, not CNV and anti-VEGF treatment is controversial.The anatomical and functional prognosis of these cases are better than others with neovascularization [16].

Current treatment of vascularized pigment epithelial detachment

Vascularized PED is a common complication of neovascular AMD. In past, total ablation with laser photocoagulation was used to performed for treatment of vascularized PED but even it prevents progression of membrane functional outcomes of this treatment were not satisfactory due to laser scars [17]. The applicability of photodynamic treatment or other modalities are decreased day by day in intravitreal pharmacotherapy era. Current treatment protocols include intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF for the treatment of PED.

The efficacy of anti-VEGF injection was first described in bevacizumab. Yüksel et al., reported that intravitreal bevacizumab therapy preserved vision after 1-year follow-up and decreased PED height [18]. On the other hand, according to Ach et al., study, bevacizumab treatment cannot significantly decrease in PED height in vascularized PED over a period of 9 months [19]. Lee et al., investigated that the effects of high dose intravitreal bevacizumab (5mg) on treatment of persisted PED in neovascular AMD [20]. They found that after the repeating (mean 3.39 times) high dose intravitreal bevacizumab injection, best corrected visual acuities (BCVA) are increased, central foveal thickness and PED height were statistically significantly decreased and they did not observe any serious adverse effects. They stated that increasing the dose of bevacizumab may be a possible treatment option in case of treatment-resistant PED [20].

In treatment-naïve eyes pro-re-nata protocol of ranibizumab therapy is found to be beneficial. Chevreaud et al., reported mean central macular thickness decreased from 572.1 µm to 396.6 µm, while the mean height of PED decreased from 458.2 µm to 306.8 µm and mean BCVA increased from 0.46 to 0.39 logMAR12 months after the treatment [21]. According to their study vascularized PED in neovascular AMD responded well to ranibizumabin terms of functional and anatomical outcomes.

Aflibercept is a VEGF-trap molecule that have more powerful binding affinity than anti-VEGFagents. According to VIEW1 and VIEW 2 studies, after the 3-monthly loading regimen,aflibercept can be injected less frequently than other anti-VEGF agents in neovascular AMD [22]. On the other hand, there are several studies that compare the effects of ranibizumab and aflibercet in vascularized PED and nearly all of them showed that both them are effective in treatment-naïve eyes. Vaze et al., reported that both of these anti-VEGF therapies provide significant functional and anatomical improvements in treatment-naïve eyes ofneovascular AMD with vascularized PED [23].They also observed in 6-months follow-up, the mean number of injections and visits were similar in 2 drug groups[23]. On the contrary, Balaskas et al., found aflibercept is more effective than ranibizumab according to anatomic and functional results of 3^rd and 12^th months [24].

Switching treatment from ranibizumab to aflibercept seems a good choice in unresponsive PEDs. In treatment-resistant AMD,switching to aflibercept improved both visual and anatomical outcomes. Kumar et al., found a significant reduction in central retinal thickness in eyes with neovascular AMD, 97% of them had PED, 3-months after switching toaflibercept [25]. Additionally, Chan et al., reported significant functional and anatomic improvements 6-months after switching to aflibercept,in their series of 189 eyes with AMD. They stated that the response of switching was better in eyes with PED than the eyes without PED [26].

De Massougnes et al., found that the visual improvement is associated with the baseline characteristics including lower BCVA, presence ofsubfoveal fluid, and female gender. PED height decrement is positively associated with higher baseline PED height, the higher the baseline PED height the more reduction was observed [27]. According to Balascas et al., study, all of baseline values including BCVA, subretinal fluid, central macular thickness, PED volume, PED’s vertical dimension have prognostic importance [24]. In contrary, there are many studies argued that baseline characteristics of PED have not any influence on the functional outcomes [23].

According to recent studies the reflectivity of PED on OCT was found as one of the most important prognostic factors that indicate the response of anti-VEGF therapy in which hyporeflective PEDs are more treatable than hyperreflective PEDs [1,10,28-30].The hyporeflective PED’s response to anti-VEGF therapy is more satisfactory in terms of reduction of subretinal fluid volume, RPE volume, and BCVA. It is also found that hyperreflective elevations are more associated with occult CNV [1].

Lam et al., separated PEDsinto 2 groups according to their morphology by OCT as eyeswith wrinkled vascularized PED and without wrinkled vascularized PED. They stated that wrinkled vascularized PED is associated with better BCVA and it needs less prevalent intravitreal injection [15]. According to their hypothesis,wrinkled surfaced PED may occur due to contracture of the material within PED when height of PED is already diminished and that cause better response to anti-VEGFtreatment [15]. Possibly RPE tears are also less common in these eyes.

The response of aflibercept treatment is also determined by presence of coincident macular diseases such as CNV and its subtypes.Choroidal vessel proliferation locates beneath the RPE causes type 1 CNV while type 3 CNV also known as retinal angiomatous proliferation originates from deep retinal capillary vessels. The baseline anatomical and clinical characteristics and also functional outcomes in follow-up period are differed in vascularized PED with type 1 than type 3 CNV. Chen et al., reported PED with type 3 CNV is better response to aflibercept than PED with type 1 CNV and it needs less frequent aflibercept injection [31].

Kim et al., reported the development of several adverse eventsafter the aflibercept treatment in eyes with refractory to previous continuous anti-VEGF injection including, epiretinal membrane, vitreous and subretinal hemorrhage. These complications were mainly occurredin eyes with PED associated subretinal fluid [32]. According to Traumer et al., study in the series of 132 case with neovascular AMD, most of the eyes has submacularhemorrhagewere associated with PED [33]. The presence of PED seems to an important predisposing factor for occurrence of submacular hemorrhage.

Vaze et al., reported the occurrence of RPE tear in bothranibizumab and aflibercept treatment groups [23]. Actually, RPE tears can occur in natural course of vascularized PED associated with neovascular AMD in range of 10-12%. All types of anti-VEGF injections increase the risk of RPE tear in around 12-25 % [34]. PED size and height are also important risk factors for RPE [35]. Doguizi et al., determined 580 µm as a cutoff value for RPE tear after anti-VEGF injection [34]. Rapid contraction of the proliferated membranes under the RPE is a probably mechanism and these tears commonly occur in post-injection 1st or 2nd months [34].

In conclusion, intravitreal aflibercept treatment is seemed as the most effective treatment option in neovascular AMD with vascularized PED. Nevertheless, difference of ranibizumab and aflibercet is very little in treatment-naïve eyes. In treatment-resistant eyes, even high dose bevacizumab injection was applied but switching is seemed as more current protocol. The prognostic importance of baseline characteristics is controversy but reflectivity and morphology of lesion by OCT or present coincidences effects on functional and anatomical outcomes.