Appointments and Honors

Medical Director of the Clinical Eye Research Unit

Subspecialty

Retina, macula and vitreous diseases

Medical and Surgical Interests

• Diabetic retinopathy
• Macular degeneration
• Multimodal retinal imaging
• Retinal dystrophies
• Retinal laser
• Retinal vascular disease

Research Interests

• Clinical trials
• International health
• Intravitreal injections
• Medical education and mentoring
• Multimodal imaging
• Retinal vascular disease

Research Highlights

Dr. Mititelu, a skilled retinal specialist, has actively pursued mentorship of ophthalmology residents and touts the benefits for both the clinical and research experience. A mentoring partnership with Dr. Aline Martins, from the University of Sao Paolo, resulted in two significant publications that impact patient care. The first retrospective study examined those with the rare automimmune disease non-paraneoplastic autoimmune retinopahthy (npAIR). The research set out to identify predicters of visual outcomes and whether treatment was associated with changes in visual acuity. The study reported on the complexity of clinical and imaging findings associated with this rare disease and indicated that delayed diagnosis could result in greater visual decline. Although risk factors were not identified, diagnosis and treatment ensured stability of symptoms and prevented disease progression. Another mentored research study with Dr. Martins focused on the significance of disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL) in patients with retinal vein occlusions (RVOs). The type of anti-VEGF agents used and they examined whether this choice influenced DRIL. The study found that the type of anti-VEGF agent used (either bevacizumab or aflibercept) was not predictive of the enhancement of visual acuity and did not affect the magnitude of DRIL improvement in RVO. Levels of DRIL were improved with anti-VEGF treatment and resolution of DRIL was associated with better visual acuity. Further work is required to explore the effect on ranibizumab on DRIL levels.
Non-paraneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy: multimodal testing characteristics of 13 cases
Disorganization of retinal inner layers in retinal vein occlusions: new insights from anti-VEGF treatment

Dr. Mititelu has been Principal Investigator on multiple clinical trials, most recently providing critical data on the role of Complement C3 inhibitor Pegcetacoplan, which has been shown to significantly reduce the progression of geographic atrophy, a late stage of age-related macular degeneration and leading cause of vision loss.

Education

Fellowship: Diseases of the Retina, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL

Residency: Hofstra North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, Great Neck, NY

Internship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Mercy), Pittsburgh, PA

Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC

Additional Studies: Master of Public Health, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA

Recent Publications

Khanna, S., Martins, A., Oakey, Z., & Mititelu, M. (2019). Non-paraneoplastic Autoimmune Retinopathy: Multimodal Testing Characteristics of 13 Cases. Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection, 9(1), 6. doi:10.1186/s12348-019-0171-1

Nguyen, M. T., Martins, A. L. B., Heiligenstein, M. A., Blodi, B. A., & Mititelu, M. (2019). Disorganization of Retinal Inner Layers in Retinal Vein Occlusions: New Insights From Anti-VEGF Treatment. Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases, 3(5), 309–316. https://doi.org/10.1177/2474126418819697

Kim, H., Wang, A., & Mititelu, M. (2017). Case Series of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Circumscribed Choroidal Hemangiomas. Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases, 1(2), 133–137. https://doi.org/10.1177/2474126416687424