Retinal Angiomatous Proliferation

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report the cases of retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) which has been known to be rare in Asian populations, and to describe the characteristic clinical and angiographic findings of RAP. METHODS: Six eyes of 3 patients were diagnosed as having RAP, and 5 eyes had extensive soft drusen. The first case showed intraretinal neovascularization (RAP stage 1) and subretinal neovascularization with a retinal-retinal anastomosis and an associated serous pigment epithelial detachment (RAP stage 2). The second case showed choroidal neovascularization with a retinal choroidal anastomosis (RAP stage 3) and RAP stage 1. In the third case, RAP stage 2 and severe fibrous scarring, resulting from RAP, could be found. RESULTS: RAP seems to have the tendency for bilateral involvement and extrafoveal location, and a high index of suspicion may be required in the eyes having large serous pigment epithelial detachment accompanied by soft drusen. Fundus findings, such as intraretinal or preretinal hemorrhage, intraretinal reddish nodule, macular edema and indocyanine green angiogram findings of retinal-retinal anastomosis or retinal-choroidal anastomosis, have diagnostic values.