Rishita Pujari

All Publications

• Age-related macular degeneration associated with optic disc drusen FRONTIERS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY Alkhabaz, A., Kim, M., Pujari, R., Zhang, J., Ren, Y., Leung, L., Liao, Y. 2025; 5: 1620616

  Abstract

  The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in association with optic disc drusen (ODD).This was an observational, cross-sectional study.Participants were consecutive patients with and without ODD from the neuro-ophthalmology clinic. Ten patients with concomitant ODD-AMD were sub-analyzed.The two cohorts were identified from a prospectively recruited dataset between July 2022 and June 2024. Patients received formal diagnoses of ODD and AMD after ophthalmic and imaging assessment. A logistic regression model was utilized in calculating AMD risk to account for demographic differences.A total of 94 patients with ODD (median age: 44 [Q1: 20, Q3: 69], 64% women) and 100 patients without ODD (median age: 60 [Q1: 44, Q3: 69], 48% women) were identified. AMD was observed in 9.6% and 3% of the ODD and non-ODD cohorts, respectively. The risk of AMD was higher in the ODD group (OR = 3.93, 95% CI: 0.89-21.85, p = 0.084). Although the association was not statistically significant, a logistic regression model attributed that to the age difference between the two cohorts. Of the 10 patients with ODD-AMD, 70% had a family history of AMD. These patients were all Caucasians and had a median age of 75 years (range: 56-91); 70% were women. Only 30% were smokers. On optic disc imaging, 70% of eyes demonstrated moderate-to-severe ODD.Patients with ODD might be at a higher risk of AMD compared to patients without ODD, and AMD screening might be warranted. A family history of AMD is often present, indicating shared genetic risk factors.

  View details for DOI 10.3389/fopht.2025.1620616

  View details for Web of Science ID 001529635000001

  View details for PubMedID 40677744

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC12267001

• Using Multimodal Imaging to Improve the Diagnostic Accuracy of Optic Disc Edema Kim, M., Alkhabaz, A., Yu, M., Pujari, R., Zhang, J., Zhu, P., Liao, Y. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2025

  View details for Web of Science ID 001560033700013

• Classification of Superficial and Buried Optic Disc Drusen using EDI-OCT B-Scans Yu, M., Pujari, R., Zhang, J., Zhu, P., Liao, Y. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2025

  View details for Web of Science ID 001558935600010

• Plasma lipids as novel biomarker of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy Alkhabaz, A., Kaushal, K., Ren, Y., Modgil, S., Pujari, R., Zhang, J., Zhu, P., Fu, M., Dai, Y., Liao, Y. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2025

  View details for Web of Science ID 001560033700010

• Microvascular changes in acute nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy with or Zhang, J., Pujari, R., Alkhabaz, A., Zhu, P., Yaping, S., Liao, J. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2025

  View details for Web of Science ID 001558421400018

• Reading and Eye-Tracking Metrics as Visual Function Indicators for Patients with Optic Neuropathies Ren, Y., Pujari, R., Peters, P., Zhang, J., Zhu, P., Liao, Y. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2025

  View details for Web of Science ID 001558634800043

• Optic disc edema masks optic disc flavoprotein fluorescence signal in optic nerve stroke Pujari, R., Ren, Y., Zhang, J., Zhu, P., Pugazhendhi, S., Rich, C., Liao, Y. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2025

  View details for Web of Science ID 001561732600014

• Optic disc drusen-associated neovascularization: A systematic review. Survey of ophthalmology Alkhabaz, A., Pujari, R., Ren, Y., Smith, S. J., Liao, Y. J. 2025

  Abstract

  We have integrated current evidence of visual outcomes in optic disc drusen-associated choroidal neovascularization (ODD-CNV). We systematically reviewed all published ODD-CNV cases from 1974 to 2024 using three databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science). Only studies reporting baseline visual acuity, follow-up visual acuity, and an intervention were included. Methodological quality was assessed using a standardized tool for case reports. Seventy-four eyes (65 patients) were identified from 48 eligible articles. The median age of the subjects was 13 years (range: 3-75), and 63.5% were females. CNVs were mainly peripapillary, with 45.7% of them progressing into the macula. On average, the eyes had a follow-up period of 21.5 months. Overall, treatment (of any type) showed better outcomes (0.53 LogMAR improvement, >3 lines on Snellen chart) compared to observation only (0.09 LogMAR improvement). Anti-VEGF injections and laser photocoagulation, the most frequently used interventions, showed 0.62 and 0.19 LogMAR improvement, respectively; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.05398). Among 24 pediatric eyes, anti-VEGF showed 0.71 LogMAR improvement with minimal side effects and recurrence in one eye only. When stratified by age, pediatric patients experienced a greater LogMAR improvement compared to adults, even when adjusting for anti-VEGF treatment (p = 0.0279). Our findings highlight the importance of intervention in ODD-CNV patients, particularly in the younger population, as they are more responsive to treatment. Anti-VEGF demonstrates great efficacy and safety profile in the pediatric population.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.survophthal.2025.05.010

  View details for PubMedID 40441443

• Endogenous flavoprotein fluorescence imaging revealed increased optic disc metabolic stress in optic neuropathies Liao, Y., Pujari, R., Zhu, P., Rich, C., Yu, M., Pugazhendhi, S. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2024

  View details for Web of Science ID 001312227701116

• Structure and Function Comparison of Autosomal Dominant and Sporadic Optic Disc Drusen Zhang, J., Pujari, R., Zhu, P., Pugazhendhi, S., Yu, M., Liao, Y. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2024

  View details for Web of Science ID 001313316205043

• Outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography in patients with liver transplant. Clinical and experimental hepatology Yang, T., Patel, A., Pujari, R., Okine, V. P., Chirumamilla, L. G., Jnaneswaran, G., Raj, A., Kwajok, K. L., Goswami, R., Maiyani, P., Desai, M., Shah, H., Grossman, M. 2022; 8 (3): 226-232

  Abstract

  Biliary complications are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality after liver transplant (LT). However, national data on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) usage and outcomes in LT patients are lacking. Our study aims to identify the trends, outcomes, and predictors of ERCP and related complications in this patient subgroup.We derived our study cohort from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) between 2007 and 2017. LT patients were identified using ICD-9/10CM diagnosis codes and patients who underwent ERCP were identified by ICD-9/10-CM procedure codes. We utilized the Cochrane-Armitage trend test and multivariate logistic regression to analyze temporal trends, outcomes, and predictors.A total of 372,814 hospitalizations occurred in LT patients between 2007 and 2017. ERCP was performed in 2.05% (n = 7632) of all hospitalizations. There was a rise in ERCP procedures from 1.96% (n = 477) in 2007 to 2.05% (n = 845) in 2017. Among LT patients who underwent ERCP, the in-hospital mortality rate was 1% (n = 73) and 8% (n = 607) were discharged to facilities. Mean length of hospital stay was 7 ±0.3 days. Septicemia was the most common periprocedural complication (18.3%, n = 1399) followed by post-ERCP pancreatitis (8.8%, n = 674).There has been an increase in ERCP procedures over the past decade among LT patients. Our study highlights the periprocedural complications and outcomes of ERCP in LT patients from a nationally representative dataset.

  View details for DOI 10.5114/ceh.2022.119246

  View details for PubMedID 36685268

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9850314

• Therapeutic Options for COVID-19: A Review. Cureus Pujari, R., Thommana, M. V., Ruiz Mercedes, B., Serwat, A. 2020; 12 (9): e10480

  Abstract

  An acute respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), previously known as 2019-nCoV], the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first detected in Wuhan, China. Since then, the virus has spread rapidly worldwide leading to a global public health crisis. Due to its devastating effect on public health, it is crucial to identify a viable therapeutic option to mitigate the damage the disease causes. In spite of various governments implementing aggressive global lock-down and quarantine protocols, the number of cases continues to follow an upward trend. At present, the therapeutic strategies are supportive or preventative, focusing on reducing transmission. Given the gravity of the situation, we aim to explore the drugs that have been tried so far and their efficacy when applied in clinical trials. Since newer interventions would take months to years to develop, by looking at the pool of existing therapeutic options, including remdesivir (RDV), plasma exchange or cytapheresis, hydroxychloroquine, baricitinib, and lopinavir (LPV), we have tried to detail the principles behind their use to treat COVID-19, current application, and adverse effects. Many coronaviruses have a highly mutable single-stranded RNA genome and hence discovering new drugs against the virus is going to be challenging owing to the possible viral genetic recombination. Extensive research is still needed to safely advocate the efficacy of the currently available therapeutic options.

  View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.10480

  View details for PubMedID 32953365

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7496561