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Sickle cell retinopathy. A focused review

Abdalla Elsayed, Maram E.A. ; Mura, Marco ; Al Dhibi, Hassan ; Schellini, Silvana ; Malik, Rizwan ; Kozak, Igor and Schatz, Patrik LU orcid (2019) In Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 257(7). p.1353-1364
Abstract

Purpose: To provide a focused review of sickle cell retinopathy in the light of recent advances in the pathogenesis, multimodal retinal imaging, management of the condition, and migration trends, which may lead to increased prevalence of the condition in the Western world. Methods: Non-systematic focused literature review. Results: Sickle retinopathy results from aggregation of abnormal hemoglobin in the red blood cells in the retinal microcirculation, leading to reduced deformability of the red blood cells, stagnant blood flow in the retinal precapillary arterioles, thrombosis, and ischemia. This may be precipitated by hypoxia, acidosis, and hyperosmolarity. Sickle retinopathy may result in sight threatening complications, such as... (More)

Purpose: To provide a focused review of sickle cell retinopathy in the light of recent advances in the pathogenesis, multimodal retinal imaging, management of the condition, and migration trends, which may lead to increased prevalence of the condition in the Western world. Methods: Non-systematic focused literature review. Results: Sickle retinopathy results from aggregation of abnormal hemoglobin in the red blood cells in the retinal microcirculation, leading to reduced deformability of the red blood cells, stagnant blood flow in the retinal precapillary arterioles, thrombosis, and ischemia. This may be precipitated by hypoxia, acidosis, and hyperosmolarity. Sickle retinopathy may result in sight threatening complications, such as paracentral middle maculopathy or sequelae of proliferative retinopathy, such as vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment. New imaging modalities, such as wide-field imaging and optical coherence tomography angiography, have revealed the microstructural features of sickle retinopathy, enabling earlier diagnosis. The vascular growth factor ANGPTL-4 has recently been identified as a potential mediator of progression to proliferative retinopathy and may represent a possible therapeutic target. Laser therapy should be considered for proliferative retinopathy in order to prevent visual loss; however, the evidence is not very strong. With recent development of wide-field imaging, targeted laser to ischemic retina may prove to be beneficial. Exact control of intraoperative intraocular pressure, including valved trocar vitrectomy systems, may improve the outcomes of vitreoretinal surgery for complications, such as vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment. Stem cell transplantation and gene therapy are potentially curative treatments, which may prevent retinopathy. Conclusions: There is lack of evidence regarding the optimal management of sickle retinopathy. Further study is needed to determine if recent progress in the understanding of the pathophysiology and diagnosis of sickle retinopathy may translate into improved management and outcome.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Hemoglobin C, Hemoglobin S, Ischemia, Neovascularization, Panretinal photocoagulation, Sickle cell retinopathy
in
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
volume
257
issue
7
pages
1353 - 1364
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85063223261
  • pmid:30895451
ISSN
0721-832X
DOI
10.1007/s00417-019-04294-2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f391551c-1648-47ed-8099-472823abf4d3
date added to LUP
2019-04-08 14:01:39
date last changed
2024-06-26 12:25:35
@article{f391551c-1648-47ed-8099-472823abf4d3,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: To provide a focused review of sickle cell retinopathy in the light of recent advances in the pathogenesis, multimodal retinal imaging, management of the condition, and migration trends, which may lead to increased prevalence of the condition in the Western world. Methods: Non-systematic focused literature review. Results: Sickle retinopathy results from aggregation of abnormal hemoglobin in the red blood cells in the retinal microcirculation, leading to reduced deformability of the red blood cells, stagnant blood flow in the retinal precapillary arterioles, thrombosis, and ischemia. This may be precipitated by hypoxia, acidosis, and hyperosmolarity. Sickle retinopathy may result in sight threatening complications, such as paracentral middle maculopathy or sequelae of proliferative retinopathy, such as vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment. New imaging modalities, such as wide-field imaging and optical coherence tomography angiography, have revealed the microstructural features of sickle retinopathy, enabling earlier diagnosis. The vascular growth factor ANGPTL-4 has recently been identified as a potential mediator of progression to proliferative retinopathy and may represent a possible therapeutic target. Laser therapy should be considered for proliferative retinopathy in order to prevent visual loss; however, the evidence is not very strong. With recent development of wide-field imaging, targeted laser to ischemic retina may prove to be beneficial. Exact control of intraoperative intraocular pressure, including valved trocar vitrectomy systems, may improve the outcomes of vitreoretinal surgery for complications, such as vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment. Stem cell transplantation and gene therapy are potentially curative treatments, which may prevent retinopathy. Conclusions: There is lack of evidence regarding the optimal management of sickle retinopathy. Further study is needed to determine if recent progress in the understanding of the pathophysiology and diagnosis of sickle retinopathy may translate into improved management and outcome.</p>}},
  author       = {{Abdalla Elsayed, Maram E.A. and Mura, Marco and Al Dhibi, Hassan and Schellini, Silvana and Malik, Rizwan and Kozak, Igor and Schatz, Patrik}},
  issn         = {{0721-832X}},
  keywords     = {{Hemoglobin C; Hemoglobin S; Ischemia; Neovascularization; Panretinal photocoagulation; Sickle cell retinopathy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{1353--1364}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology}},
  title        = {{Sickle cell retinopathy. A focused review}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00417-019-04294-2}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00417-019-04294-2}},
  volume       = {{257}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}