[Correlation of indocyanine green angiography findings and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in surgically excised age-related macular degeneration-related choroidal neovascular membranes].

PURPOSE

We investigated the relationship between clinical classification by indocyanine green angiography (IA) and pathologic findings including the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in age-related macular degeneration-related choroidal neovascular membranes.

SUBJECT AND METHODS

The subjects were 15 patients with age-related macular degeneration who underwent surgical excision for choroidal neovascular membrane. The patients were classified into 4 types: Type I, hyperfluorescence in both early and late phases (n = 7); Type II, hyperfluorescence in the early phase only (n = 2); Type III, hyperfluorescence in the late phase only (n = 3); and Type IV, no hyperfluorescence in any phase (n = 3). The excised choroidal neovascular membranes were fixed and stained by hematoxylin-eosin and azan. They were also examined by immunohistochemical staining for VEGF.

RESULTS

VEGF was expressed markedly in vascular endothelial cells and fibroblast-like cells of interstitial tissue of Types I, II and III. Its expression was weak in Type IV.

CONCLUSION

Clinical classification by IA for age-related macular degeneration is consistent with the pathologic findings including the expression of VEGF.