Macular Degeneration: Wei WB

Wei WB, Mo J. · No affiliation provided · Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. · Pubmed #18785539 No free full text.

Abstract: Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) especially CNV secondary to age related macular degeneration is becoming an increasing socio-medical problem as the global population aging. Recently, with novel insights in the pathogenesis of the disease, anti-angiogenesis pharmacotherapy blated its way into ophthalmogical practice and significantly changed the management of CNV, since at the first time achieving improvement in visual function. However, facing such promising drugs, we still need to take caution with the safety, long-time efficacy; to investigate more reasonable dosing schedule; to study the combined treatment strategies and so on,finally to find out the best individual clinical care for our patients.

Shi XH, Wei WB, Tian B, Yang LH, Ding N, Wang ZH, Wang GL. · Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China. · Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. · Pubmed #19175155 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in different classifications. METHODS: In this retrospective case series, 393 eyes of 312 patients with CNV between May 2005 and March 2007 in our department was classified based on their etiology, location, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) findings. RESULTS: The relative frequency of various causes in CNV was as follows: there were 153 cases (49.04%) from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) , 94 cases (30.13%) from idiopathic CNV, 37 cases (11.86%) from pathologic myopia, 15 cases (4.81%) from inflammatory disorders, 7 cases (2.24%) from polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), 3 cases (0.96%) from angioid streaks and 1 case (0.32%) from either hereditary disease or trauma or tumor, respectively. The majority cases from AMD was male (64.71%), whereas most from pathologic myopia, idiopathic CNV and inflammatory disorders were female (78.38%, 73.40%, 73.33%). The age range of the cases from AMD was 49-95 years (68.73 +/- 8.31), and 98.04% of them were at least 50 years old. Patients with idiopathic CNV aged 13-43 years old (29.86 +/- 6.45), and 84.04% of them were between 20 and 40 years old. The sex (chi2 = 57.17, P<0.05) and age (F=172.57, P< 0.05) had significant difference in each etiological group. FFA showed that CNV in 43.48% from AMD and 66.67% from PCV were occult and non-classic. CNV in 91.67% from pathologic myopia, 76.19% from inflammatory disorders and 95.00% from idiopathic CNV was classic. In each group, most of the CNV was subfoveal type (58.00%-100.00%), followed by juxtafoveal type (0%-35.00%). In the ICGA of 54 eyes with AMD, 11 eyes (20.37%) were occult CNV (plaque, spot and mixed CNV), 17 eyes (31.48%) were CNV fibrosis. CNV was active in most cases. The frequency of active and inactive CNV in AMD was approximately 61.11% and 37.04%, respectively, no lesions were noted in 1 eye (1.85%) in ICGA. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical characteristics and frequency of various types of CNV are different due to different causes. Classification of CNV based on its etiology, FFA and ICGA findings, location, and activity in detail is important for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis judgment in CNV.

Wang FH, Liang YB, Zhang F, Wang JJ, Wei WB, Tao QS, Sun LP, Friedman DS, Wang NL, Wong TY. · Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Lab, Beijing, China. · Ophthalmology. · Pubmed #19168222 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To describe the age- and gender-specific prevalence, characteristics, and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a rural population in northern China. DESIGN: A population-based cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 6830 Han Chinese aged 30 years and older from 13 villages of Yongnian County, Handan City, Hebei Province, China. METHODS: All participants underwent a standardized interview, a comprehensive eye examination, and fasting blood glucose testing according to the American Diabetes Association diagnostic criteria (fasting plasma glucose >or=7.0 mmol/l). Retinal photographs obtained after pupil dilation were graded for the presence and severity of DR according to the modified Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study classification system. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Any DR, retinopathy grades, macular edema, or vision-threatening retinopathy. RESULTS: Of the 6830 eligible individuals participating in the study, 5597 (81.9%) had fasting blood glucose results available. Of these, 387 participants (6.9%) were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, including 247 subjects with new diabetes mellitus (NDM) and 140 subjects with known diabetes mellitus (KDM). For these, gradable photographs were available for 368 subjects (95.1%). The overall prevalence of DR was 43.1% (95% confidence interval, 38.1-48.4) and was higher in persons with KDM (65.2%) than NDM (33.5%). The prevalence of proliferative DR, macular edema, and vision-threatening retinopathy was 1.6%, 5.2%, and 6.3%, respectively, with 12.1% with KDM having untreated vision-threatening DR. No age- or gender-related differences were present. The prevalence of DR was strongly related to duration of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reports a high prevalence of DR among adults 30 years and older with diabetes in rural China. On the basis of estimates obtained from our study, we projected that in rural China, 21.1 million persons aged 30+ years have diabetes and 9.2 million have DR, including 1.3 million with vision-threatening DR. There is a pressing need for appropriate screening and management of diabetes and its complications in rural China.

Yang WL, Wei WB, Wang JZ. · Beijing Tongren Ophthalmic Center, Capital University of Medical Sciences. Beijing 100730, China. · Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. · Pubmed #15924689 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To study the specific imaging of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI). METHODS: Routine CDFI was carried out in 98 cases of AMD to observe the character of blood flow in AMD, to establish the diagnosis criteria of different types of AMD and to different the AMD from malignant choroidal melanoma, metastatic carcinoma of the choroid, choroidal nevus and macular edema. RESULTS: CDFI in dry form AMD did not detect changes in most patients, mildly elevated lesions presented in some cases. In wet form of AMD, CDFI showed solid lesion with irregular surface contour. The internal structure of these lesions was middle degree. Choroidal excavation was not found. Numerous blood flow signals could be found at the base of the lesion. Spot blood flow signals were present on the surface of the lesion. There was no abnormal blood flow signal in the mass. The different acoustic properties between wet form and dry form included configuration, surface and internal structure, with or without vitreous hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: CDFI is a simple and reliable method in the diagnosis of AMD.

He SZ, Wei WB. · Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100853, China. · Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. · Pubmed #15924687 No free full text.

Abstract: Several surgical procedures and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and their advantages, disadvantages and complications were reviewed. It is important to establish an evaluating system and taking science attitude to survey various novel surgical procedures, to evaluate their clinical results, with emphasis on the limited safety and restriction of indication.