Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39419369›Full record

ArticleExperimental eye research2024

Ghost vessels in the eye: Cell free choriocapillaris domains in atrophic age-related macular degeneration.

Robert F Mullins, Miles J Flamme-Wiese, Emma M Navratil, Erin A Boese, Katayoun Varzavand, Megan J Riker, Kai Wang, Edwin M Stone, Budd A Tucker

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Experimental eye research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. AAV NRF2 gene therapy preserves retinal structure and function in rodent models of oxidative damage.Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Selective deletion ofiScience · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Robert F MullinsThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, United States; The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, United States. Electronic address: robert-mullins@uiowa.edu.
Miles J Flamme-WieseThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, United States; The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, United States.
Emma M NavratilThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, United States; The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, United States; The University of Iowa Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, United States.
Erin A BoeseThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, United States; The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, United States.
Katayoun VarzavandThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, United States; The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, United States.
Megan J RikerThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, United States; The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, United States.
Kai WangThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, United States; The University of Iowa Department of Biostatistics, United States.
Edwin M StoneThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, United States; The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, United States.
Budd A TuckerThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, United States; The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, United States.

Funding

Stem Cell and Organoid CoreP30EY025580 · NEI · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI Michael G Anderson · 2016 to 2026
$6.9M
Choriocapillaris Protection and Replacement in AMDR01EY024605 · NEI · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI Robert Foster Mullins, Budd A Tucker · 2014 to 2026
$4.6M
NEI NIH HHS P30 EY025580NEI NIH HHS R01 EY024605
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The choriocapillaris is a dense vascular bed in the inner choroid that supplies the photoreceptor cells and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). While loss of choriocapillaris density has been described in association with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), whether these changes are primary or secondary to RPE degenerative changes in AMD has been debated. In this study we characterized choriocapillaris loss by quantifying "ghost" vessels in a series of 99 human donor maculae labeled with the UEA-I lectin, and found significant increases in early-intermediate AMD and a greater difference in geographic atrophy in areas with intact RPE. Eyes were genotyped at the CFH Tyr402His locus, and those homozygous for the His allele showed significantly more ghost vessels than those with other genotypes. When only non-AMD eyes were evaluated, His homozygotes had increased ghost vessel density but this trend did not reach statistical significance. These results support the notion that choriocapillaris death often precedes RPE degeneration in AMD and that this loss is an important therapeutic consideration for AMD.

Indexed as

ChoroidGeographic AtrophyRetinal Pigment EpitheliumAgedAged, 80 and overCapillariesComplement Factor HFemaleGenotypeHumansMacular DegenerationMaleMiddle AgedTissue DonorsCFH protein, humanComplement Factor HAge-related macular degenerationAgingChoriocapillaris

Identifiers

PMID39419369
PMCPMC11532014

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.