Abstract Details

We conducted a cross-sectional, case-control study from a health care system database of patients who had retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) and brain MRI from 2011-2015. Patients aged ≥ 40 years with AMD were defined as cases and age-matched with those without AMD as controls in 1:1 ratio. Primary independent variables were probable CAA using the modified Boston criteria, superficial siderosis and deep CMB. The relationship between AMD and CAA were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, and compared across AMD severity (none vs early vs late AMD).

Our analysis included 256 age-matched pairs (AMD 126, no AMD 130). Of those with AMD, 79 (30.9%) had early AMD and 47 (19.4%) had late AMD. Mean age was 75±9 years, and there was no difference in age or vascular risk factors across groups. Patients with AMD had higher prevalent CAA (22.2% vs 14.6%, p=0.116), superficial siderosis (15.1% vs 6.2%, p=0.020) but not deep CMB (5% vs 6.2%, p=0.426), compared to those without AMD. After adjusting for covariates, having late AMD was associated with increased odds of CAA (OR 2.30, 95%CI 1.00-5.28, p=0.050), superficial siderosis (OR 3.4, 95%CI 1.20-9.65, p=0.022) but not deep CMB (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.14-3.51, p=0.669). 

We found that late AMD was associated with probable CAA and superficial siderosis but not deep CMB. The finding is hypothesis generating and needs to be further explored in prospective studies.