TY - JOUR
T1 - Ellipsoid zone reflectivity as a functional imaging biomarker for age-related macular degeneration: a MACUSTAR study report
AU - Liermann, Yannick N.
AU - Behning, Charlotte
AU - Isselmann, Ben
AU - Schmid, Matthias
AU - Dunbar, Hannah M.P.
AU - Luhmann, Ulrich F.O.
AU - Finger, Robert P.
AU - Schmitz-Valckenberg, S.
AU - Holz, Frank G.
AU - Pfau, M.
AU - Luu, Chi D.
AU - Saßmannshausen, M.
AU - Thiele, S.
AU - Zakaria, N.
AU - Wolf, A.
AU - Vieweg, L.
AU - Varano, M.
AU - Tufail, A.
AU - Thiele, S.
AU - Terheyden, J. H.
AU - Taylor, D. J.
AU - Stöhr, L.
AU - Staurenghi, G.
AU - Souied, E.
AU - Skelly, A.
AU - Silva, R.
AU - Siedlecki, J.
AU - Schrinner-Fenske, H.
AU - Schmitz-Valckenberg, S.
AU - Schmid, M.
AU - Saßmannshausen, M.
AU - Sander, O.
AU - Sánchez, C.
AU - Sahel, J.
AU - Rubin, G. S.
AU - Rowen, D.
AU - Priglinger, S.
AU - Pfau, M.
AU - Peto, T.
AU - Peters, T.
AU - Penas, S.
AU - Parravano, M.
AU - Parodi, B.
AU - Paques, M.
AU - Mulyukov, Z.
AU - Montesano, G.
AU - Miliu, A.
AU - Martinho, C.
AU - Hogg, R.
AU - Fletcher, E.
AU - the MACUSTAR consortium
PY - 2025/6/20
Y1 - 2025/6/20
N2 - This study evaluated the functional relevance of relative ellipsoid zone reflectivity (rEZR) on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography as a structural biomarker for retinal integrity, focusing on its association with retinal function. Participants with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and controls from the MACUSTAR study underwent functional testing, including mesopic fundus-controlled perimetry, best-corrected visual acuity, low-luminance visual acuity, low-luminance deficit, Moorfields Acuity Test, and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity, along with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging. Structural and functional data were analyzed globally and spatially aligned for topographic analysis. Linear-mixed effects models, adjusted for age, sex, and eccentricity of the rEZR, assessed associations between rEZR and functional metrics. A total of 275 eyes (early AMD, n = 34; intermediate AMD, n = 152; late AMD, n = 36; controls, n = 53) from 275 participants (mean ± standard deviation age: 71.1 ± 7.2 years; 63.3% female) were included. In global analyses, rEZR was associated with the mean average threshold in mesopic fundus-controlled perimetry (coefficient estimate 0.0492, 95% confidence interval 0.0190–0.0794, p = 0.0015), low-luminance visual acuity (coefficient estimate − 0.0015, 95% confidence interval − 0.0026 to − 0.0004, p = 0.0092), Moorfields Acuity Test (coefficient estimate 0.0092, 95% confidence interval − 0.0022 to − 0.0001, p = 0.0285), and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity (coefficient estimate 0.0030, 95% confidence interval 0.0015–0.0045, p = 0.0001). Topographic analysis further revealed an association of rEZR with mesopic retinal sensitivity (coefficient estimate 0.0065, 95% confidence interval 0.0026–0.0104, p < 0.0001). Higher outer retinal reflectivity is linked to better retinal function in AMD and controls, supporting its potential as a biomarker for retinal integrity and function.
AB - This study evaluated the functional relevance of relative ellipsoid zone reflectivity (rEZR) on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography as a structural biomarker for retinal integrity, focusing on its association with retinal function. Participants with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and controls from the MACUSTAR study underwent functional testing, including mesopic fundus-controlled perimetry, best-corrected visual acuity, low-luminance visual acuity, low-luminance deficit, Moorfields Acuity Test, and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity, along with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging. Structural and functional data were analyzed globally and spatially aligned for topographic analysis. Linear-mixed effects models, adjusted for age, sex, and eccentricity of the rEZR, assessed associations between rEZR and functional metrics. A total of 275 eyes (early AMD, n = 34; intermediate AMD, n = 152; late AMD, n = 36; controls, n = 53) from 275 participants (mean ± standard deviation age: 71.1 ± 7.2 years; 63.3% female) were included. In global analyses, rEZR was associated with the mean average threshold in mesopic fundus-controlled perimetry (coefficient estimate 0.0492, 95% confidence interval 0.0190–0.0794, p = 0.0015), low-luminance visual acuity (coefficient estimate − 0.0015, 95% confidence interval − 0.0026 to − 0.0004, p = 0.0092), Moorfields Acuity Test (coefficient estimate 0.0092, 95% confidence interval − 0.0022 to − 0.0001, p = 0.0285), and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity (coefficient estimate 0.0030, 95% confidence interval 0.0015–0.0045, p = 0.0001). Topographic analysis further revealed an association of rEZR with mesopic retinal sensitivity (coefficient estimate 0.0065, 95% confidence interval 0.0026–0.0104, p < 0.0001). Higher outer retinal reflectivity is linked to better retinal function in AMD and controls, supporting its potential as a biomarker for retinal integrity and function.
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-025-00735-7
DO - 10.1038/s41598-025-00735-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 40542004
AN - SCOPUS:105009648118
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 15
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
M1 - 20093
ER -