[New therapies for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration].
Age-related macular degeneration has a natural progression from the precursors (the drusen) towards atrophic or neovascular complications. Choroidal neovascularization is undoubtedly the aspect of the disease that benefits most from new therapeutical approaches. Destructive photocoagulation based on fluorescein angiography has demonstrated since 20 years its efficiency on choroidal neovascularization. The same approach based on indocyanine green (ICG) angiography would increase the number of patients available to therapy. Very recently photodynamic therapy has demonstrated its efficiency to stabilize visual acuity at least at two years in patients with choroidal new vessels predominantly well defined. Other treatment developments are considered, such as refinement of photocoagulation techniques or of surgery. Until now, none has demonstrated its efficiency although they raise justified hopes. The future approaches rely upon the progress of the research both in physiopathology of the disease and on the angiogenic process requiring a constant interaction with all thematics of research. Finally, palliative treatments will be required before heading up to a preventive treatment.
Soubrane
G
G
Clinique Ophtalmologique Universitaire de Créteil, Université Paris-XII, 40, avenue de Verdun, 94010 Créteil.
Kuhn
D
D
Oubraham
H
H
Quaranta
M
M
Coscas
G
G
D000368:Aged; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008028:Light Coagulation; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D007208:Indocyanine Green