Biomedical subjects

Esther M Hoffmann

Publications and source records attributed to Esther M Hoffmann.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Intereye concordance in locations of visual field defects in primary open-angle glaucoma: diagnostic innovations in glaucoma study.

PURPOSE: To determine the overlap in defective visual field locations between the right and left eyes of primary open-angle glaucoma patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional retrospective analysis of data from a prospectively designed longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy in at least 1 eye and 2 consecutive reliable standard automated perimetry fields within 15 months were included, yielding 468 eyes of 234 patients. METHODS: Concordance in defective visual field locations between right and left eyes were calculated as the number of overlapping locations divided by the total number of defective locations (intereye concordance ratio). Concordance ratios also were calculated within an eye over time (intraeye concordance ratio) and between unmatched pairs of fields (unmatched concordance ratio). RESULTS: Intereye concordance (0.24+/-0.02) was significantly smaller than intraeye concordance (0.37+/-0.02) and significantly larger than unmatched concordance (0.14+/-0.01). There was a significant interaction between concordance type and defect size, such that there was no difference in concordance ratios for defects of fewer than 8 locations, and the difference between intereye concordance versus intraeye concordance and unmatched concordance ratios increased with larger defect sizes. CONCLUSIONS: A spatial relationship exists between defective locations of an individual's eyes. Future studies will show whether information about the spatial relationship is useful to guide the modification of visual field test locations to improve detection of loss and perhaps also progression.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Relationship between patterns of visual field loss and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between patterns of visual field (VF) loss and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. METHODS: One hundred twenty-one glaucoma patients and 65 healthy subjects from the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS) were included. All glaucoma patients had repeatable abnormal VFs and scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) RNFL thickness measurements. RNFL measurements were obtained from 16 equal parapapillary sectors. Patterns of VF loss were classified as arcuate, partial arcuate, nasal step, or paracentral in each VF hemifield. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which RNFL sectors were associated with each VF pattern. The ability of SLP to discriminate between eyes with different VF patterns and healthy eyes using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses also was investigated. RESULTS: VF patterns in the superior hemifield were significantly associated with RNFL sectors in the temporal inferior hemiretina (P < .05). ROC curve areas for discrimination between eyes with different VF patterns and healthy eyes ranged from 0.85 to 0.95. VF patterns in the inferior hemifield were most strongly associated with temporal superior RNFL sectors (P < .05). ROC curve areas for discrimination between different VF patterns and healthy eyes ranged from 0.73 to 0.98. SLP could discriminate between apparently unaffected VF hemifields in glaucoma eyes and VF hemifields in healthy eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Parapapillary RNFL thickness was topographically related to patterns of VF loss. SLP can differentiate between apparently unaffected VF hemifields in glaucoma eyes and normal VF hemifields in healthy eyes.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Inter-eye comparison of patterns of visual field loss in patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

PURPOSE: To compare inter-eye patterns of visual field (VF) loss on standard automated perimetry (SAP) in patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. METHODS: Four-hundred-and-ninety eyes of 245 patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy in at least one eye defined by masked stereophoto review were included. Patients had two reliable SAP visual fields within fifteen months for each eye. Patterns of visual field loss were classified independently by two graders masked to all other patient information. Patterns were described as altitudinal, arcuate, partial arcuate, paracentral, nasal step, temporal wedge, or normal based on the classification system of Keltner and associates. Superior and inferior hemifields were graded separately. RESULTS: Inter-grader agreement in visual field patterns before adjudication was 97% and 94% for the worse eye (superior and inferior hemifield) and 97% and 95% for the better eye (superior and inferior hemifield). The percentage of correspondence by hemifield location was: 53% (superior-superior), 62% (inferior-inferior), 45% (superior-inferior), and 55% (inferior-superior). The highest correspondence of individual glaucomatous VF pattern between eyes was for arcuate (superior-superior) and inferior partial arcuate (inferior-inferior) defects (24% and 26%, respectively). Smaller hemifield patterns showed lower correspondence between the eyes (nasal step, paracentral, temporal wedge, 0% to 13% correspondence). CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of visual field loss between eyes often corresponded within the same VF hemifield (superior-superior, inferior-inferior) as well as between opposite hemifields (inferior-superior), although opposite hemifield correspondence was less common. More advanced visual field defects (for example, partial arcuate) showed higher correspondence rates between the eyes than less advanced defects.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Comparison of dynamic contour tonometry and goldmann applanation tonometry in glaucoma patients and healthy subjects.

PURPOSE: To investigate the agreement in the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) obtained by dynamic contour tonometry PASCAL (DCT-PASCAL) and Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) in glaucoma eyes and healthy eyes with different central corneal thickness (CCT). DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: In a randomized order, three consecutive IOP measurements were performed on 197 eyes of 107 subjects by one examiner using both DCT-PASCAL and GAT on all eyes. Furthermore, ultrasonic pachymetry was performed. The Spearman correlation coefficient (r) was determined to compare IOP readings between DCT-PASCAL and GAT. Regression-based Bland and Altman analysis was used to evaluate agreement between the instruments. RESULTS: Mean IOP values obtained by both instruments were significantly correlated in healthy and glaucoma eyes (all healthy eyes [n = 66]: r = 0.8, P < .001, all glaucoma eyes [n = 131]: r = 0.96, P < .001). Neither GAT nor DCT-PASCAL showed a significant correlation with CCT (GAT: all eyes: r = 0.009, P = .9, DCT-PASCAL: all eyes: r = -0.05, P = .5). Bland and Altman analysis revealed the existence of proportional bias. Thus, 95% limits of agreement between the instruments varied with the actual IOP measurement. CONCLUSIONS: DCT-PASCAL and GAT revealed a strong correlation in IOP measurements between glaucoma and healthy eyes. However, the analysis of agreement indicated some discrepancies between the instruments. Measurements with both GAT and DCT-PASCAL were not correlated with central corneal thickness.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Combining structural and functional testing for detection of glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To assess whether the combined use of both structural and functional tests improves discrimination between healthy and glaucomatous eyes over either type of testing alone. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty-three eyes of 123 participants enrolled in the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study. METHODS: Because both structural and functional tests were evaluated, 2 definitions of glaucoma were used: glaucomatous visual field (VF) damage based on repeatable abnormal standard automated perimetry results (n = 43) and glaucomatous optic disc (glaucomatous optic neuropathy [GON]) based on masked assessment of optic disc stereophotographs (n = 65). Participants had scanning laser polarimetry, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy imaging in addition to frequency-doubling technology (FDT) perimetry and short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP) testing completed within a 6-month interval. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: For each glaucoma definition, sensitivities and specificities were calculated for the best structural parameters, FDT perimetry pattern standard deviation (PSD), and SWAP PSD/glaucoma hemifield test, and then for each possible pairwise combination of one structural and one functional parameter. RESULTS: The best structural parameters for discriminating between glaucoma and control eyes were nerve fiber indicator for scanning laser polarimetry, inferior average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness for OCT, and Moorfields regression classification for confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Sensitivities and specificities for detecting glaucomatous VF damage for scanning laser polarimetry, OCT, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, FDT perimetry, and SWAP were 41.9% and 98.3%, 58.1% and 98.3%, 58.1% and 84.5%, 44.2% and 98.3%, and 65.1% and 86.2%, respectively. Adding FDT perimetry to each of the best structural parameters led to a significant (P<0.05) increase in sensitivity without a significant change in specificity compared with structural parameters alone. Adding SWAP to each of the best structural parameters led to a significant increase in sensitivity and also a significant decrease in specificity compared with each structural parameter alone. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of parameters from structural tests and functional tests can improve the sensitivity of glaucoma detection. The sensitivity and specificity desired for a particular clinical application will determine the selection of the particular diagnostic tests.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Structure-function relationships using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, optical coherence tomography, and scanning laser polarimetry.

PURPOSE: To assess the strength of the association between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and optic disc topography measured with confocal retinal tomography (HRT II; Heidelberg Engineering, Dossenheim, Germany), optical coherence tomography (StratusOCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA), and scanning laser polarimetry (GDx with variable corneal compensator, VCC; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.), and visual field (VF) sensitivity and to determine whether this association is better expressed as a linear or nonlinear function. METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven patients with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma and 127 healthy eyes from enrollees in the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS) were tested on HRT II, StratusOCT, GDx VCC, and standard automated perimetry (SAP, with the Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm [SITA]) within 3 months of each other. Linear and logarithmic associations between RNFL thickness (HRT II, StratusOCT, and GDx VCC) and neuroretinal rim area (HRT II) and SAP sensitivity expressed in decibels were determined globally and for six RNFL/optic disc regions (inferonasal, inferotemporal, temporal, superotemporal, superonasal, and nasal) and six corresponding VF regions (superior, superonasal, nasal, inferonasal, inferior, and temporal). RESULTS: The associations (R2) between global and regional RNFL/optic disc measurements and VF sensitivity ranged from <0.01 (temporal RNFL, nasal VF, and nasal RNFL, temporal VF; linear and logarithmic associations) to 0.26 (inferotemporal RNFL, superonasal VF; logarithmic association) for HRT II; from 0.02 (temporal RNFL, nasal VF; linear association) to 0.38 (inferotemporal RNFL, superonasal VF; logarithmic association) for OCT; and from 0.03 (temporal RNFL, nasal VF; linear association) to 0.21 (inferotemporal RNFL, superonasal VF; logarithmic association) for GDx. Structure-function relationships generally were strongest between the inferotemporal RNFL-optic disc sector and the superonasal visual field and were significantly stronger for StratusOCT RNFL thickness than for other instruments in this region. Global associations (linear and logarithmic) were significantly stronger using OCT compared with HRT. In most cases, logarithmic fits were not significantly better than linear fits when visual sensitivity was expressed in log units (i.e., decibels). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that structure-function associations are strongest with StratusOCT measurements and are similar between HRT II and GDx VCC and these associations are generally no better expressed logarithmically than linearly when healthy, suspect, and glaucomatous eyes are considered.

Female↗

PubMed2005

Agreement among 3 optical imaging methods for the assessment of optic disc topography.

PURPOSE: To assess the agreement of disc topography measurements between the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT II), Retinal Thickness Analyzer (RTA), and Optical Coherence Tomograph (StratusOCT). DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-two randomly chosen eyes of 42 subjects. METHODS: Each subject underwent HRT II, RTA, and StratusOCT examination. Two experienced examiners drew the contour lines for the HRT II and RTA. Bland and Altman plots were used to evaluate agreement for each topographic parameter among the instruments. The Spearman coefficient of rank correlation was evaluated for each topographic parameter. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Agreement in the measurement of optic disc topography among 3 imaging instruments, as evaluated by regression-based 95% limits of agreement. RESULTS: For optic disc area, the agreement between HRT II-RTA and StratusOCT-RTA revealed the existence of proportional bias, indicated by significant slopes of the regression lines (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively). The 95% limits of agreement between instruments varied with the actual optic disc size measurement. Heidelberg Retina Tomograph disc area measurements tended to be consistently lower than StratusOCT disc area measurements (fixed bias). The Spearman correlation coefficient between the instruments ranged from r = 0.35 (rim area, HRT II-StratusOCT) to r = 0.91 (cup area, HRT II-RTA). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate to high correlation was found in measurements of optic disc topography among different instruments. However, the analysis of agreement indicated important discrepancies among instruments. Therefore, these instruments should not be used interchangeably to obtain measurements of the optic disc for glaucoma diagnosis.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Repeatability and reproducibility of optic nerve head topography using the retinal thickness analyzer.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the reproducibility and repeatability of topographic disk parameters with the retinal thickness analyzer (RTA). METHODS: Thirty-nine eyes of 39 healthy subjects were included. Three observers performed three consecutive measurements of optic disk topography independently. Combined repeatability (intra-observer component of variability) and reproducibility (inter-observer component of variability, R and R) was assessed by variance component analysis. RESULTS: Six topographic parameters (disk area, cup area, cup volume, mean cup depth, maximum depth, and cup shape measure) revealed an acceptable repeatability and reproducibility expressed as the percentage of the total measurement variability (range 17.6-28.4%). The average reproducibility and repeatability of all optic disk parameters measured using the RTA was not acceptable (combined R and R = 33.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Repeatability and reproducibility of the optic disk topography analysis using the RTA reveals a high variation, and should, therefore, be interpreted carefully for glaucoma diagnosis and for monitoring the disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Unsupervised machine learning with independent component analysis to identify areas of progression in glaucomatous visual fields.

PURPOSE: To determine whether a variational Bayesian independent component analysis mixture model (vB-ICA-mm), a form of unsupervised machine learning, can be used to identify and quantify areas of progression in standard automated perimetry fields. METHODS: In an earlier study, it was shown that a model using vB-ICA-mm can separate normal fields from fields with six different patterns of visual field loss related to glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) along maximally independent axes. In the present study, an independent group of 191 patient eyes (66 with ocular hypertension (OHT), 12 with suspected glaucoma by field, 61 with suspected glaucoma by disc, and 52 with glaucoma) with five or more standard visual fields under observation for a mean of 6.24 +/- 2.65 years and 8.11 +/- 2.42 visual fields were evaluated with the vB-ICA-mm. In addition, eyes with progressive GON (PGON) were identified (n = 39). Each participant had a series of fields tested, with each field entered independently and placed along the axes of the previously developed model. This allowed change in one pattern of visual field defect (along one axis) to be assessed relative to results other areas of that same field (no change along other axes). Progression was based on a slope falling outside the 5th and the 95th percentile limits of all slopes, with at least two axes not showing such a deviation in a given individual's series of fields. Fields were also scored using Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) and the Early Manifest Glaucoma Treatment Trial (EMGT) criteria. RESULTS: Thirty-two of 191 eyes progressed on vB-ICA-mm by this definition. Of the 32, 22 had field loss at baseline, 7 had only GON, 3 were OHTs and 12 were from the 39 eyes (31%) with PGON. The vB-ICA-mm identified a higher percentage of progressing eyes in each diagnostic category than did AGIS or and the EMGT. CONCLUSIONS: The vB-ICA-mm can quantitatively identify progression in eyes with glaucoma by evaluating change in one or more patterns of the visual field loss while other areas or patterns remain stable. This may enable each eye to contribute to the determination of whether change is caused by true progression or by variability.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude using dynamic contour tonometry and contact lens tonometry.

BACKGROUND: The new Ocular Dynamic Contour Tonometer (DCT), investigational device supplied by SMT (Swiss Microtechnology AG, Switzerland) allows simultaneous recording of intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA). It was the aim of this study to compare the IOP results of this new device with Goldmann tonometry. Furthermore, IOP and OPA measured with the new slitlamp-mounted DCT were compared to the IOP and OPA measured with the hand-held SmartLens,a gonioscopic contact lens tonometer (ODC Ophthalmic Development Company AG, Switzerland). METHODS: Nineteen healthy subjects were included in this study. IOP was determined by three consecutive measurements with each of the DCT, SmartLens, and Goldmann tonometer. Furthermore, OPA was measured three times consecutively by DCT and SmartLens. RESULTS: No difference (P = 0.09) was found between the IOP values by means of DCT (mean: 16.6 mm Hg, median: 15.33 mm Hg, SD: +/- 4.04 mm Hg) and Goldmann tonometry (mean: 16.17 mm Hg, median: 15.33 mm Hg, SD: +/- 4.03 mm Hg). The IOP values of SmartLens (mean: 20.25 mm Hg, median: 19.00 mm Hg, SD: +/- 4.96 mm Hg) were significantly higher (P = 0.0008) both from Goldmann tonometry and DCT. The OPA values of the DCT (mean: 3.08 mm Hg, SD: +/- 0.92 mm Hg) were significantly lower (P = 0.0003) than those obtained by SmartLens (mean: 3.92 mm Hg, SD: +/- 0.83 mm Hg). CONCLUSIONS: DCT was equivalent to Goldmann applanation tonometry in measurement of IOP in a small group of normal subjects. In contrast, SmartLens (contact lens tonometry) gave IOP readings that were significantly higher compared with Goldmann applanation tonometer readings. Both devices, DCT and SmartLens provide the measurement of OPA which could be helpful e.g. for the management of glaucoma.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Complex autoantibody repertoires in patients with glaucoma.

PURPOSE: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes for blindness in the world. It is characterized by a progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells. An elevated intraocular pressure cannot explain the disease in all subjects. Autoimmune mechanisms maybe involvemed in the pathogenesis of the disease. The aim of our study was to analyze the IgG autoantibody repertoires in sera of glaucomatous subjects against optic nerve antigens. METHODS: Ninety-four subjects were included in this comparative cross-sectional study of healthy (CTRL), primary-open-angle-glaucoma (POAG), ocular-hypertension (OHT), and normal-tension-glaucoma (NTG) volunteers. Sera of subjects were tested against western blots of optic nerve antigens. For each western blot, a densitograph was built by digital image analysis and subsequently a multivariate analysis of discriminance was performed. RESULTS: Complex IgG autoantibody repertoires could be found in all subjects, even in healthy subjects. The multivariate analysis of discriminance can test for statistical differences between the groups using the whole complex staining pattern for the calculation. A significant difference between all groups against optic nerve antigens was found. The NTG group had the highest variance from controls (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates immunological effects in POAG and NTG and may provide further evidence for an involvement of autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of both NTG and POAG. Using the techniques presented in this study, the differences in the complex autoantibody repertoires were assessed by means of statistical analysis. Further studies are needed to determine whether these changes in autoantibodies could be helpful in the diagnosis of glaucoma.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Erdheim-Chester disease: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare histiocytosis, histologically characterized by xanthogranulomatous inflammation. It may affect the bones, heart, lung, liver, kidneys, retroperitoneum, brain, and, rarely, the orbit. In the majority of patients, orbital infiltration is bilateral. CASE: A 61-year-old man presented with bilateral exophthalmos and progressive loss of visual function caused by chorioretinal folds and papillary swelling due to retrobulbar pseudotumor. The computed tomogram of the abdomen showed retroperitoneal thickening, leading to the interpretation of multifocal fibrosclerosis. This was further substantiated by an orbital biopsy revealing chronic fibrosing inflammation. Retrobulbar radiotherapy (20 Gy) and long-term systemic corticosteroid treatment followed. Although the retroperitoneal involvement decreased, no significant effect on orbital involvement was achieved. A second review of the orbital biopsy revealed foamy cell infiltration and the presence of a sclerotic process. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated positive CD 68 stains, whereas S-100 and CD 1a were negative, thus confirming ECD. The histologic finding was comparable to a biopsy of the retroperitoneum. Endonasal decompression was performed but visual acuity (VA) decreased to 20/250 in the right eye and on finger counting in the left eye. The patient continues to be under therapy with prednisolone 20 mg/day and methotrexate 25 mg/week. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical orbital manifestation of ECD occurs in two different forms: one presenting as a mild impairment of visual function, while the second, clinical form, observed in our patient, is characterized by a progressive loss of VA despite therapeutic efforts such as immunosuppressive systemic therapy, radiation, and surgery. The described case illustrates that clinical findings in multifocal fibrosclerosis overlap with those observed in ECD.

Erdheim-Chester Disease↗

PubMed2004

[Heterochromia of the Iris after t-PA and Gas Injection of Sulfur Fluoride].

BACKGROUND: Are changes in iris colour and retinal pigment epithelium after t-PA and gas injection and subsequent vitreous haemorrhage caused by blood cells, or is this a toxic effect? CASE: A 81-year old female presented for vitrectomy with a persistent vitreous haemorrhage two months after t-PA and gas injection because of subretinal macular haemorrhage. Sonographic control revealed attached retina. The examination disclosed a new heterochromia of the iris with a change from blue to green-brown. A discrete anterior chamber flare and blood cells were found. Subsequent vitrectomy revealed a thick, rubber-like haemorrhage in the vitreous with suspect pigmentation. A change in retinal pigmentation was also evident. CONCLUSION: The cause for the heterochromia and the change in pigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium remained unclear. It may have been a consequence of the persistent bleeding with iron apposition on the iris. A toxic effect of t-PA has to be discussed which led to the alteration in pigmentation.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Optic disk size and glaucoma.

Assessment of optic disk size is an important, but often overlooked, component of the diagnostic evaluation for glaucoma. Measured values of optic disk size vary with the measurement technique utilized. Available methods for disk size measurement and their respective strengths and limitations will be discussed. Further, actual disk size varies with race and possibly other demographic characteristics. Disk size is also associated with variation of specific anatomical structures of the optic nerve head and the retinal nerve fiber layer. These disk size- dependent variations may influence the susceptibility to glaucoma or the likelihood of glaucoma diagnosis. This manuscript reviews the published evidence relating to disk size and glaucoma.

Age Factors↗