Publications by authors named "Martin S Spitzer"
Objective: To demonstrate the capability of a deep learning model to detect central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), a retinal pathology with significant clinical urgency, using OCT data.
Design: Retrospective, external validation study analyzing OCT and clinical baseline data of 2 institutions via deep learning classification analysis.
Subjects: Patients presenting to the University Medical Center Tübingen and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany.
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to examine the degeneration of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) in patients with late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) disease and to assess pRNFL thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a potential indicator of disease progression.
- The research involved 20 diagnosed patients who received regular enzyme replacement therapy, with OCT imaging conducted under anesthesia; results showed a significantly lower mean pRNFL thickness compared to healthy children, indicating degeneration.
- Results highlighted that pRNFL thickness correlated strongly with age and clinical scales used to evaluate motor and language abilities, suggesting that pRNFL can serve as a useful biomarker for monitoring the progression of CL
Article Synopsis
- - Choroidal nevi are benign eye lesions often found during eye exams, and while they rarely become malignant, they are frequently referred to specialists, leading to a backlog in care for patients with more serious conditions.
- - The MOLES score was developed to help non-specialists distinguish between choroidal nevi and melanoma, demonstrating high specificity (96%) and sensitivity (100%) in a study involving nearly 700 patients.
- - Combining the MOLES score for initial screenings with the TFSOM-DIM score for assessing tumor progression can improve patient management and referrals, guiding both non-experts and specialists in monitoring these eye conditions.
Purpose: In October 2023, other cases with early silicone oil opacification within hours after intraocular implantation in the absence of emulsification occurred. While multiple, small series of this phenomenon are now documented during the last decade, the cause was never unmasked. In this study, we analyzed explanted patient samples, unused samples of the affected, and a control batch of the same silicone oil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of brolucizumab therapy administered on a (PRN) basis without loading dose in treatment naïve patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) for 1 year follow-up.
Methods: Patients with recent DME (<6 months) received a mandatory brolucizumab injection at inclusion and other injections could be given on a PRN basis with an 8-week interval (between injections) at minimum. Rescue therapy with other anti-VEGF was possible in case of incomplete DME resolution after the second brolucizumab with a minimum of 1-month treatment free interval between 2 injections.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates the retinal changes in patients with CLN2 disease who are receiving enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), focusing on the loss of central retinal thickness (CRT).
- Using optical coherence tomography scans, researchers analyzed the structural details of the retina and found that the degeneration primarily affects photoreceptor cells.
- Findings indicate that early disruptions in the ellipsoid zone (EZ) of the retina precede more significant photoreceptor degeneration, which progresses in a predictable pattern, providing valuable biomarkers for assessing disease and treatment effectiveness.
Background: To investigate the presence of silicone oil (SO)-emulsification on the anterior iris surface with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).
Methods: In this single-center cross-sectional study, vitrectomized eyes with SO tamponade that underwent AS-OCT imaging and gonioscopy examination during the postoperative follow-up visits, were reviewed.
Results: 45 eyes of 42 consecutive patients were included.
Rationale: Meta-analyses of case series of non-arteritic central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) indicate beneficial effects of intravenous thrombolysis when initiated early after symptom onset. Randomized data are lacking to address this question.
Aims: The REperfusion therapy with intravenous alteplase for recovery of VISION in acute central retinal artery occlusion (REVISION) investigates intravenous alteplase within 4.
Background: Intravitreal injections are one of the most commonly performed ophthalmic procedures. It is estimated that over 1 million intravitreal injections are performed in Germany annually. The aim of this study was to quantify the waste and carbon footprint associated with single-use injection sets, and to establish a waste reduction strategy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The German Registry of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) collects data on CSC patients in a nationwide multicenter approach to analyze epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentations, as well as diagnosis and treatment patterns.
Methods: In this multicenter cohort study, patients with CSC were enrolled in nine tertiary referral centers in Germany between January 2022 and June 2023. After consenting to the study, demographic data, risk factors, reported symptoms, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), funduscopic findings, disease severity, and diagnostic and treatment decisions were recorded and analyzed.
Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to increase the affordability and accessibility of eye disease screening, especially with the recent approval of AI-based diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening programs in several countries.
Methods: This study investigated the performance, feasibility, and user experience of a seamless hardware and software solution for screening chronic eye diseases in a real-world clinical environment in Germany. The solution integrated AI grading for DR, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma, along with specialist auditing and patient referral decision.
Purpose: Exploratory analysis associated with the prospective, multicenter, randomized PRIVENT trial. To characterize the associations between laser flare photometry and anatomical and epidemiological features of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).
Methods: The authors measured laser flare values of all 3,048 prescreened patients excluding those with comorbidities.
Background: To determine long-term efficacy and safety of intravitreal brolucizumab therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in the real-world setting.
Methods: Retrospective, observational, multicentric study and an extension of the REBA study (Real-world Experience with Brolucizumab in nAMD) to 24 months. The study entailed follow-up of 91 consecutive eyes (67 patients) with nAMD who received brolucizumab therapy and completed 24 months of follow-up.
[Molecular diagnostics for vitreoretinal lymphoma].
Pathologie (Heidelb)
December 2023
Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) represents a subtype of intraocular lymphomas, which are a subgroup of malignant lymphomas of the eye. PVRL is considered a special form of primary diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the CNS (central nervous system) (PCNSL) and arises primary or secondary to PCNSL. According to the cell of origin (COO) classification of DLBCL, PVRL largely belongs to the activated B‑cell (ABC) type of DLBCL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the pursuit of identifying the underlying pathways of ocular diseases, the use of cell lines such as (retinal ganglion cell-5) RGC-5 and 661W became a valuable tool, including pathologies like retinal degeneration and glaucoma. In 2001, the establishment of the RGC-5 cell line marked a significant breakthrough in glaucoma research. Over time, however, concerns arose about the true nature of RGC-5 cells, with conflicting findings in the literature regarding their identity as retinal ganglion cells or photoreceptor-like cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Noninfectious posterior and panuveitis may exhibit a chronic relapsing clinical course and are challenging to treat. Most affected patients are continuously treated with systemic immunosuppressive therapy, which is potentially associated with significant adverse side effects.
Methods: A cohort of 18 patients presenting with severe noninfectious posterior or panuveitis were evaluated with respect to the clinical course of the disease, with particular focus on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), treatment duration, remission rates, reported negative side effects, and the necessity for switching medication.
X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) shows features also seen in patients with uveitis and is recognized as an uveitis masquerade syndrome. This retrospective study aimed to describe characteristics of XLRS patients with an initial uveitis diagnosis and to contrast these to patients with an initial XLRS diagnosis. Patients referred to a uveitis clinic, which turned out to have XLRS ( = 4), and patients referred to a clinic for inherited retinal diseases ( = 18) were included.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiurnal functional and anatomical changes in X-linked retinoschisis.
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol
November 2023
Background: To investigate the changes in macular cystic schisis (MCS) and sensitivity during the day in X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) patients.
Methods: Treatment-naïve patients with genetically verified XLRS underwent best-correlated visual acuity (BCVA) testing with ETDRS charts, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and microperimetry (MP) twice a day, at 9 a.m.
Background: Cataract surgery induces corneal endothelial cell loss (ECL). This study investigates the relationship between bottle height (BH) and ECL induced due to irrigation and aspiration (I/A) in cataract surgery and quantifies protective effects of intraoperatively used ophthalmic viscoelastic substances.
Methods: Intermittent I/A without phacoemulsification was performed in porcine eyes for 10 min with varying BHs of 100 cm (BH100), 125 cm (BH125), 150 cm (BH150) or no treatment (control, no I/A).
Purpose: To propose the InTraocular EMulsion of Silicone oil (ITEMS) grading system for the assessment of silicone oil (SiO) emulsion, applicable in a routine clinical setting and validated through an expert-led consensus procedure.
Methods: Seven experts on intraocular liquid tamponades, led by a facilitator, performed a literature review on the detection of SiO emulsion. Based on the proposed ideas, a questionnaire was developed and submitted to the experts on the methods to detect SiO emulsion and the items to grade.
Article Synopsis
- Terson syndrome (TS) is a common complication in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), affecting up to 46% of cases, but it's often overlooked in clinical settings.
- The study involved 617 aSAH patients, with 367 receiving ophthalmological exams; 21.3% of those examined were found to have TS, which was linked to more severe conditions indicated by higher Fisher and WFNS scores.
- Two significant predictors for TS identified were higher WFNS grades and the occurrence of seizures, and surgical intervention improved visual function in a subset of patients.
Purpose: To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO)-Detection Score in diagnosing CRAO questionnaire and without fundoscopy.
Methods: This prospective study enrolled 176 emergency patients suffering from acute visual loss, of whom 38 were suffering from CRAO. Before conducting any examination, we administered our questionnaire containing six questions, followed by a thorough ophthalmologic examination to make the diagnosis.