The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily and is expressed in the retina and choroid. MR antagonist (MRA) has a long history of application in non-ophthalmic clinical practice. Various cellular and animal models indicated that inappropriate activation of MR participated in pathological angiogenesis, oxidative stress, inflammation, disturbance of ion/water homeostasis and neurodegenerative changes, while the application of MRA can reduce or reverse these pathological processes. After using MRA in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) patients, improved visual function, less subretinal fluid and reduced sub-foveal choroidal thickness were observed. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in MR and plasma aldosterone levels were significantly different between chronic CSC patients and CSC patients with spontaneous remission. Novel formulation for sustained-release MRA and the mechanisms involving inflammation may become the new focus of MR study. This review summarizes the research status of MR and MRA in order to provide a reference for future basic research and clinical treatment.
Objective To observe the degree of choriocapillary ectasia (CCE) and sub-foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with different activity and discuss their relations. Methods Forty eyes of 40 CSC patients were recruited. The activity of CSC was determinate by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). There were 23 eyes with active CSC (active-CSC group), and 17 eyes with inactive CSC (inactive-CSC group). All eyes in both groups were examined with optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA), and the CCE area of the choriocapillary layer was measured within a 3 mm×3 mm zone centered on the central fovea of macula. Ectasia was classified based on CCE area, more than 66% of examination area was high ectasia, and 33%-66% as medium ectasia, below 33% as low ectasia. SFCT was measured with frequency domain optical coherence tomography. The relationship between CCE degree, SFCT and CSC group was analyzed. Results Among the 23 eyes of active-CSC group, there were 5 eyes of low ectasia, 12 eyes of medium ectasia, 6 eyes of high ectasia. Among 17 eyes of inactive-CSC group, there were 11, 4, 2 eyes of low, medium and high ectasia respectively. Active-CSC group had more advanced degree of ectasia than that in inactive-CSC group(Z=-2.472, P=0.013).SFCT of active-CSC group and inactive-CSC group were (418.13±126.15), (429.76±105.80) μm respectively, the difference was not significant (t=-0.308, P=0.760). SFCT in eyes with low ectasia, medium ectasia, high ectasia were (419.13±105.60), (381.00±125.12), (515.13±67.68) μm respectively. The difference among the three group was statistical significant (F=4.106, P=0.025). SFCT in eyes of high ectasia was obviously thicker than low ectasia and medium ectasia, the difference was statistical significant (P=0.007, 0.048);the SFCT difference between low ectasia and medium ectasia did not appear statistical significance (P=0.326). There was no linear relation between SFCT and CCE degree (r=0.247, P=0.124). Conclusions Active-CSC eyes has more advanced CCE degree than inactive-CSC eyes, but SFCT is the same between the two groups. High ectasia eyes have thicker SFCT.
ObjectiveTo investigate the difference in microperimetry between acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). MethodsCross-sectional cases study. A consecutive series of 208 patients (221 eyes) with CSC diagnosed by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into acute group (136 patients, 143 eyes) and chronic group (72 patients, 78 eyes) according to the duration and FFA. There were no statistical difference in sex (χ2=0.012, P=0.912) and mean age (t=-1.492, P=0.137) between two groups. All eyes received the examination of microperimetry and minimum resolution angle in logarithmic (logMAR) best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The mean retinal sensitivities (MS) and fixation rate in the central 2°(P1) and 4° (P2) were determined. ResultsThe mean value of logMAR BCVA in acute group and chronic group were 0.32±0.23 and 0.48±0.33, there was significant difference (Z=-3.353, P=0.001). In acute group and chronic group, the MS were (21.25±5.06) and (15.82±7.23) dB, P1 were (76.36±25.78)% and (55.01±32.34)%, P2 were (92.21±13.06)% and (79.83±23.11)%. There were statistical differences in MS (Z=-5.456, P < 0.001), P1 (Z=-4.629, P < 0.001) and P2 (Z=-4.265, P < 0.001) between two groups. In acute group, fixation was stable in 98 eyes (68.5%), relative unstable in 30 eyes (21.0%), unstable in 15 eyes (10.5%). In chronic group, fixation was stable in 30 eyes (38.5%), relative unstable in 22 eyes (28.2%), unstable in 26 eyes (33.3%). The difference of fixation between two groups was statistically significant (χ2=23.196, P < 0.001). ConclusionMS, fixation rate and fixation stability in chronic CSC eyes were all decreased compared with acute CSC eyes.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of macular structure and choroidal capillary blood flow density in patients with acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).MethodsProspective cross-sectional study. A total of 24 eyes of 24 patients with monocular acute CSC (case group) diagnosed by clinical examination from Shanxi Eye Hospital during January and March 2018 were included in the study. The eyes (24 eyes) and contralateral eyes (24 eyes) of the patients in the case group were set to CSC group and contralateral eye group, respectively. Twenty-one eyes of 21 healthy volunteers with age and gender matching were selected as normal control group. The macular structure of the eyes were observed by OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA), and the blood vessel density of choroidal capillary layer in the circular area of the macular area with a radius of 1 mm was measured. The paired t-test was used to compare the differences in blood flow density in the choroidal capillaries between the three groups.ResultsThe results of OCT showed that the serous neuroepithelial detachment in the macular area was observed in all eyes of the CSC group, with or without RPE detachment being 20 or 4 eyes, respectively. Of the 24 eyes in the contralateral eye group, 13 eyes (54.2%) had thick choroidal RPE lesions (PPE). There was no abnormality in the retina and choroidal structure in the macular area of the normal control group. The results of OCTA showed that the blood flow density of choroidal capillaries in the CSC group, the contralateral eye group and the normal control group were 1.759±0.132, 1.924±0.463, and 1.940±0.033, respectively. Compared with the eyes of the contralateral eye group and the normal control group, the blood flow density of choroidal capillaries in the CSC group was significantly lower (t=6.611, 6.474; P=0.000, 0.000). There was no significant difference in the blood flow density of choroidal capillary layer between the contralateral eye group and the normal control group (t=1.328, P＞0.05). In the contralateral eye group, there was no significant difference in the blood flow density of choroidal capillary layer between PPE eyes and no RPE eyes (t=0.806, P＞0.05).ConclusionsThere is 54.2% of the contralateral eyes in the monocular acute CSC patients with PPE. The choroidal capillary layer blood flow density is lower than that of the contralateral and normal eyes.
ObjectiveTo observe the change of retinal microstructures and the association between visual outcome with these microstructures in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) after laser treatment.MethodsThis is a retrospective study. From April 2016 to February 2017, a total of 52 eyes from 52 patients who underwent conventional laser treatment (27 eyes) or subthreshold laser treatment (25 eyes) for CSC and the sub-retinal fluid (SRF) absorbed completely were included in this study. The were 46 patients (46 eyes) and 6 males (6 eyes), with the mean age of 43.92±8.62 years. The healthy fellow eyes (49 eyes) were selected as control. All patients were underwent BCVA and SD-OCT examination. According to the OCT images for all patients, the thickness of central foveal (CFT), outer nuclear (ONL), inner segment (IS), outer segment (OS) were measured. The status of ellipsoid zone (EZ), interdigitation zone (IZ) and RPE were also evaluated at fovea. Comparing the change of SD-OCT microstructures in two time points, the first visit after SRF absorbed and the last visit respectively. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the relation between BCVA and ONL, IS, OS.ResultsAt the first visit after SRF absorbed, compared with control eyes, the thickness of CFT (182.55±24.14 μm), ONL (72.86±17.39 μm), IS (41.23±5.14 μm), OS (18.52±10.26 μm) in CSC eyes were decreased (P＜0.001). Meanwhile, the mean BCVA of CSC eyes was 81.27±6.39 letters, which was also significantly decreased comparing with control eyes (P＜0.001). At last visit, the thickness of CFT, ONL, IS, OS were 195.19±22.10, 75.44±16.33, 44.56±4.09, 26.60±11.39 μm, and the mean BCVA was 85.50±5.95 letters. All recovered significantly comparing with first visit (P＜0.05). At first visit, the BCVA of patients with integrate EZ (83.38±5.78 letters) was significantly better than the BCVA of patients with unintegrated EZ (77.90±5.97 letters) (P=0.003). And the BCVA of patients with smooth RPE (82.72±5.95 letter) was also significantly better than the BCVA of patients with rough RPE (78.00±6.31 letters) (P=0.020). The result of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the thickness of OS was positively correlated to BCVA at two time points (r=0.423, 0.416; P=0.002, 0.002).ConclusionsIn CSC, the thickness of ONL, IS, OS were decreased, and the integrality of EZ, IZ, the smooth of RPE were disrupted in different extent. After laser treatment, with retinal reattachment, those microstructures including ONL, IS, OS, EZ, IZ recovered slowly. The thickness of OS, the integrality of EZ and the smooth of RPE were associated with visual acuity.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods35 eyes (35 patients) with chronic (or recurrent) CSC treated with half-dose verteporfin PDT. Best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) were measured before and after treatment (1, 3 and 6 months). The mean BCVA was 0.28±0.22, mean CMT was(384.5±85.0)μm. The situation of subretinal fluids (SRF) absorption was observed. ResultsIn 35 eyes, SRF of 29 eyes (82.9%) completely absorbed and 6 eyes (17.1%) not completely absorbed after one month of treatment. SRF of all eyes (100.0%) completely absorbed after three months of treatment. After 6 months of treatment, SRF of 3 eyes (8.6%) were recurrence, which might be completely absorbed when a half-dose maintenance therapy PDT was used again. The mean BCVA significantly improved to 0.14±0.13 at 1 months, 0.05±0.11 at 3 months and 0.05±0.12 at 6 months after PDT (t=5.410, 7.830, 7.758; P < 0.05). The mean CMT decreased to (224.3±61.4) μm at 1 months, (199.6±32.7) μm at 3 months and (205.3±39.6) μm at 6 months after PDT (t=11.856, 11.781, 11.900; P < 0.05). The mean CMT of controlled 32 eyes after treatment was (198.5±33.9) μm, much lower than the fellow eyes(232.3±17.5) μm (t=-3.988, P < 0.05). ConclusionsHalf-dose verteporfin PDT was safe and effective in treating chronic CSC, but may cause thinning of CMT.
ObjectiveTo observe the alterations of vascular density of superficial or deep retinal vascular plexus and the area of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) eyes.MethodsThis is a retrospective study including 22 patients with unilateral CSC in acute stages. The patients were divided into group A (22 affected eyes) and B (22 fellow eyes). Twenty eyes of 20 age and gender-matched healthy volunteers (group C) were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography examinations. The observation index included signal intensity of blood flow in choroidal capillary, vessel density and FAZ on the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP).ResultsThe FAZ on DCP in group A was larger than that in group B and C (t=4.28, 5.57; P=0.00、0.00), but there was no significant difference of FAZ on SCP among 3 groups (t=0.28, 0.80; P=0.78, 0.43). The vessel density of SCP and DCP in group A and B were decreased than those in group C (t=−4.40, −2.91; P=0.00, 0.00). The type of choroidal capillaries dilation had two different manifestations by OCTA, which was circumscribed in 12 eyes and diffuse in 10 eyes. The subretinal fluid in macular area which presented dark chamber with weak reflection was observed by en-face OCT.ConclusionsThe vessel density of SCP and DCP in both eyes of acute CSC are lower than those in normal eyes. The FAZ of DCP in affected eyes of acute CSC is larger than that in fellow eyes and normal eyes. The blood flow of dilated choroidal capillary can be manifested as different morphological enhancements.
ObjectiveTo quantitatively analyze the changes of choroidal capillaries in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CCSC) before and after half-dose photodynamic therapy (PDT).MethodsA retrospective cohort study. Nineteen patients (21 eyes) with CCSC were enrolled in this study from November 2017 to September 2018 in People’s Hospital of Wuhan University. Among them, there were 14 males (15 eyes) and 5 females (6 eyes), with diseases course over than 6 months. All patients underwent half-dose PDT. Twenty normal subjects (40 eyes) matched with age and sex in CCSC group were taken as controls. The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was measured by Heidelberg depth enhanced imaging-OCT before and after PDT treatment in CCSC patients and in normal subjects. Spectral-domain OCT (Retina map) and Angio-OCT angiography (3 mm×3 mm) were arranged for all subjects at the same time. Macular fovea retinal thickness (CMT) was recorded under OCT-Retina map mode, and Angio-OCT 3 mm×3 mm choroidal capillary images were binarized using Image J software, and calculating the area ratio of low pixel area as flow signal void (FSV). BCVA, spectral-domain OCT and Angio-OCT were performed 1 week and 1, 3 months after PDT with the same equipment and methods before PDT. The changes of CMT, SFCT, FSV and BCVA in CCSC patients before and after PDT treatment were compared. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between FSV and SFCT, age.ResultsThe average CMT, SFCT and FSV in CCSC patients increased significantly compared with the controls (P＜0.05). The average SFCT and FSV in CCSC patients 3 months after treatment were higher and the average CMT decreased compared with the controls (P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000). Comparison before and after PDT in CCSC patients: there were significant differences in average CMT, SFCT and FSV before and after PDT (P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000). Post Hoc multiple comparisons showed that the average CMT (P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000) and FSV (P=0.010, 0.000, 0.000, 0.001, 0.000) decreased significantly in all time points except for 1 month and 3 months after treatment, so as the average FSV (P=0.788, 0.702). The average SFCT decreased 1 month and 3 months after treatment compared with the baseline (P=0.024, 0.008), and there was no significant difference between before treatment and 1 week after treatment (P=0.162), and between 1 month and 3 months after treatment (P=0.687). The correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation between FSV and age in CCSC patients (r=0.052, P=0.822), but there was a correlation between FSV and age in controls (r=0.716, P=0.000).ConclusionQuantitative analysis of OCTA showes the degree of choriocapillary ischemia in the form of FSV in CCSC patients decreased after PDT treatment, however, which is still higher than normal controls.
ObjectiveTo observe the characteristic variation of the patients' inner and outer retina who had chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) after being treated of photodynamic therapy (PDT). MethodsNineteen patients with chronic CSC were recruited, including 15 eye of men and 4 eye of women, logMAR BCVA was 0.1-1.0, 0.39±0.30. Meanwhile, 24 healthy people were located in the control group. All the patients received PDT for the first time. All subjects including 24 healthy people underwent fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). Retinal thickness were investigated before PDT and 1, 4, 12, 20 weeks after PDT respectively. Data were recorded including inner layer and outer layer. Retinal thickness were compared in fovea (1 mm), parafovea (3 mm)and perifovea(5 mm). Paired-samples t test was used to compare retinal thickness before and after PDT. The statistical differences of patients and control group were evaluated by independent-samples t test. The correlations between the best logMAR corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was analyzed by Pearson statistical analyses. ResultsThe inner(F=13.814, 10.095, 4.689) and outer(F=9.354, 5.878, 3.978)layer fovea thickness of CSC subjects in 1, 4, 12 week was thinner, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The outer layer fovea thickness at P12(t=-3.725), parafovea of inner and outer retinal(t=-3.198, -2.722)was reduced when compared with control group, and differences have statistical sense, respectively (P < 0.05). There was correlation between logMAR BCVA and outer retinal thickness in fovea and parafovea (r=0.465, -0.728, -0.687; P < 0.05). ConclusionIn our study, the inner and outer layer retinal thickness decreased generally after the first time PDT in CSC patients.
ObjectiveTo compare the choriocapillaris flow density and choroidal vessel volume (CVV) of acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).MethodsA cross-sectional observational clinical study. A total of 64 eyes of 64 patients (CSC group) diagnosed with CSC at Department of Ophthalmology of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from May 2019 to October 2020, and a total of 64 eyes of 64 age and gender matched healthy volunteers (control group) during the same period were included in this study. In the CSC group, there were 34 patients with acute CSC (acute CSC group) and 30 patients with chronic CSC (chronic CSC group). There was no significant difference in age (t=－0.041) and sex composition ratio (χ2=0.191) between CSC group and control group (P＞0.05). There were statistically significant differences in age (t=－1.872) and sex composition ratio (χ2=8.778) between acute CSC group and chronic CSC group (P＜0.05). Swept source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) was performed using VG200D. The scanning mode was 512×512 and scannig range was 12 mm × 12 mm. The choriocapillaris flow density of the 3 mm, 6 mm, 12 mm circular area and 1-3 mm ring, 3-6 mm ring, and 6-12 mm ring, and the CVV of the of the 3 mm, 6 mm, 12 mm circular area was automatically generated by the built-in software (v1.28.6). The age, choriocapillaris flow density and CVV were compared between two groups using independent sample t test.ResultsCompared with the control group, the choriocapillaris flow density decreased in the CSC group, and there were statistically significant differences in the 3 mm, 6 mm circular area (t=－7.210, －4.040; P＜0.001). There were statistically significant differences between CSC group and control group in the 3 mm, 6 mm, 12 mm circular area (t=1.460, 12.270, 11.250; P＜0.05). Compared with the acute CSC group, the choriocapillaris flow density decreased in the chronic CSC group, and there were statistically significant differences (P＜0.05) in the 3 mm, 6 mm circular area (t=3.230, 2.330), the total and four quadrants of 1-3 mm ring (t=2.780, 2.060, 2.140, 2.620, 3.770), the superior quadrants of the 3-6 mm ring (t=2.550), and the superior and temporal of 6-12 mm ring (t=3.070, 2.610). There was no significant difference of CVV in the 3 mm, 6 mm and 12 mm circular area between the acute CSC group and the chronic CSC group (t=0.250, 0.070, －0.110; P＞0.05).ConclusionCompared with acute CSC, chronic CSC exhibits significant decreased choriocapillaris flow density and no change in CVV.