Angiographic evidence for revascularization of an RPE-choroid graft in patients with age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: To study graft perfusion using fluorescein angiography (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICG) after the translocation of an autologous retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid graft in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Retrospective observational case series of 31 patients with AMD who had FA and/or ICG performed after an RPE-choroid graft translocation. The FAs (n = 25) and ICGs (n = 23) were assessed by an independent masked reader for the presence of early fluorescence of the graft in FA, and for perfusion of the choroidal vessels of the graft and recipient bed in ICG. Results: Early fluorescence of the graft was present in 23 of the 25 FAs. Perfusion of the graft vasculature was observed in 12 of the 23 ICGs. The two grafts that lacked early fluorescence in FA also had no signs of choroidal perfusion of the graft and the recipient bed with ICG. Conclusion: Revascularization of the RPE-choroid graft was observed in all but 2 of the 31 patients either by early fluorescence of the graft by FA or by identification of perfused choroidal graft vessels with ICG from 1 week up to 3 years after surgery. For assessment of revascularization of the graft evaluation of the early phase of the FA is recommended.