Peripapillary XXXX : Bruch's membrane changes and photoreceptor loss.

@entity1 @entity5066 @entity726 @entity2319 @entity1781 @entity194 @entity989 @entity1020 @entity528 @entity1714
PURPOSE: To determine relationships among Bruch's membrane ultrastructure, @entity528 , and @entity194 with respect to zones of @entity989 ( @entity989 ) degeneration and @entity194 adjacent to the optic nerve head, as a function of age. DESIGN: @entity1 tissue study using clinicopathologic correlation. TISSUES: Eyes from @entity1 36 to 93 years of age lacking clinical evidence of @entity726 , @entity1781 , severe @entity1714 , age-related @entity1020 , or other macular or peripapillary chorioretinal pathologic condition. METHODS: Sections through the retina-choroid complex at the temporal aspect of the optic nerve head were used for light microscopic histopathologic analysis (n = 17), electron microscopy (n = 9), carbonic anhydrase histochemical analysis (n = 7), and lipid histochemical analysis (n = 22). Retinal whole mounts were used for photoreceptor counts (n = 5). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We determined the width of @entity989 and @entity194 , the number of eyes with abnormalities of inner Bruch's membrane, and the number of rod and cone photoreceptors within 1 mm of the disc margin. We determined whether Bruch's membrane changes, @entity528 , and @entity194 were associated with @entity989 and @entity194 . RESULTS: All eyes had @entity989 , degeneration, or both. The zone of @entity989 @entity194 widened significantly after age 75. Thickening of inner Bruch's membrane and abnormalities of the @entity989 basal lamina were associated with degenerating and @entity989 . The @entity989 basal lamina was narrow, reduplicated, or thickened as a basal laminar deposit. All eyes exhibited @entity528 but not cones at the peripapillary termination of Bruch's membrane. Diminution of choriocapillaris coverage of Bruch's membrane was associated with @entity989 . @entity2319 was associated with @entity989 @entity194 . CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that peripapillary @entity5066 is an age-related degeneration of the @entity989 -Bruch's membrane complex that resembles that found in the macula and periphery of normal eyes.
