Retinal Vessel Oxygen Saturation in Patients Suffering from Inherited Diseases of the Retina

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxygen saturation in patients with inherited diseases of the retina. Methods: Fundus oximetry images were taken using a retinal vessel analyser (IMEDOS Systems UG, Jena, Germany). Retinal vessel oximetry was performed in 53 eyes of 27 patients suffering from inherited retinal diseases and compared to 22 eyes of 11 healthy controls. The oxygen saturation in all four major retinal arterioles (A-SO₂) and venules (V-SO₂) were measured and their difference (A − V SO₂) was calculated. The data were compared within groups and to controls. Results: Based on V-SO₂ values, the rod-cone dystrophy group (66.46 %; SD, ± 5.09) could well be differentiated from controls 54.02 % (SD, ± 3.04), from cone-rod dystrophies 57.56 % (SD, ± 5.66), as well as from inherited maculopathies 58.42% (SD, ± 4.74). The mean A-SO₂ in the rod-cone dystrophy group was increased to 98.96 % (SD, ± 6.06, p < 0.014), while in the cone-rod group and in the maculopathy group it was 92.75 % (SD, ± 3.75), respectively 94.44 % (SD ± 4.85), closer to the normal values (92.68 %; SD, ± 3.53, p > 0.05). The A − V SO₂ difference, as an indirect indicator for retinal oxygen use, was reduced in the rod-cone patients, however only when the controls were taken into account (p = 0.01). Conclusion: This is to our knowledge the first study which proposes the retinal vessel oximetry to be a sensitive measure for differentiating rod-cone dystrophy patients not only from controls, but also from patients with other inherited retinal dystrophies.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund: Evaluation der Sauerstoffsättigung bei Patienten mit hereditären Netzhauterkrankungen. Material und Methoden: Es wurden Fundusoxymetrieaufnahmen mittels eines RVA-Geräts (IMEDOS Systems UG, Jena, Germany) durchgeführt. Retinale Oxymetrie (RO) wurde bei Patienten mit hereditären Netzhauterkrankungen (n = 27, 53 Augen) durchgeführt und mit denen von Kontrollprobanden verglichen (n = 11, 22 Augen). Die Sauerstoffsättigung der arteriellen (A-SO₂) und venösen (V-SO₂) Gefäße sowie deren Differenz (A − V SO₂) wurde ausgemessen und innerhalb der Gruppe und mit der Gruppe der Kontrollprobanden verglichen. Ergebnisse: Gemäß der V-SO₂-Mittelwerte (± SD) konnten die Stäbchen-Zapfen-Dystrophien (66,46 %, SD ± 5,09) von der Kontrollgruppe (54,02 %, SD ± 3,04), von den Zapfen-Stäbchen-Dystrophien (57,56 %, SD ± 5,66) und von den hereditären Makulopathien (58,42 %, SD ± 4,74) differenziert werden. Die A-SO₂ waren bei der Stäbchen-Zapfen-Dystrophie-Gruppe mit 98,96 % (SD ± 6,06, p < 0,014) im Vergleich zu den Kontrollprobanden mit 92,68 % (SD ± 3,53, p > 0,05) erhöht. Andererseits unterscheidet sich die A-SO₂ der Zapfen-Stäbchen-Dystrophie-Gruppe mit 92,75 % (SD ± 3,75) und die der Makulopathiegruppe mit 94,44 % (SD ± 4,85) nicht von der der Kontrollgruppe. Einzig die A − V SO₂-Differenz war in der Stäbchen-Zapfen-Dystrophie-Gruppe im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe reduziert (p = 0,01). Schlussfolgerung: Diese erste Studie zur Sauerstoffsättigung bei Patienten mit hereditären Netzhauterkrankungen zeigt, dass Stäbchen-Zapfen-Dystrophie-Patienten sich sowohl von der Kontrollgruppe als auch von anderen Patienten mit hereditären Netzhauterkrankungen unterscheiden lassen.

Key words

retinal vessel oximetry - oxygen saturation - inherited retinal dystrophy - rod-cone dystrophy - cone-rod dystrophy - maculopathy

Schlüsselwörter

retinale Oxymetrie - Sauerstoffsättigung der retinalen Gefäße - hereditäre Netzhauterkrankungen - Stäbchen-Zapfen-Dystrophie - Zapfen-Stäbchen-Dystrophie - Makulopathie

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