Background: This study was an analysis of fluorescein angiography (FAG) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) at a university eye hospital. The primary objective of the study was to analyze adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and their severity (mild, moderate, severe). The secondary objective was to investigate the indications of FAG and ICGA before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of all FAG and ICGA at the University Eye Hospital in Würzburg from January 2016 to the end of December 2021 was performed. The ADRs, gender, age, examination time points and indications were evaluated. The ADRs were classified into mild, moderate, and severe, following the definition of Kornblau et al. [1] RESULTS: A total of 4900 examinations from 4193 patients were analyzed. An FAG was performed slightly more frequently in men (54.8%) than in women (45.2%) and the mean age was 63.2 ± 16.9 years (median: 65 years). The ADRs occurred in only 1.65% of all FAG, of which 1.27% were mild and 0.39% were moderate. No severe ADRs occurred. The most common ADR was nausea at 59.26%. No ADR occurred in ICGA. The annual number of FAGs averaged 816.7 ± 91.1 and was relatively constant throughout the period except for a significantly reduced number in 2016 (compared with 2018, 2019, and 2021). The most common indication for FAG was venous retinal occlusion at 22.93% (N = 774), showing a significant increase in 2021 compared to 2018-2020. An ICGA was performed in 4.18% of cases, with the most common indication being uveitis at 31.82% (N = 63).
Conclusion: Compared to other studies very few ADRs occurred and no life-threatening ADR occurred in any case. Venous retinal occlusions were very common indications for FAG, probably due to the frequent need for repeated examinations in this condition. Briefly, during the first lockdown (18 March-8 May 2020), a decrease in angiographies was observed, but over a longer period, no significant differences were seen compared with the pre pandemic period.
