Radiotherapy in age-related macula degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the benefit from radiotherapy in age-related macula degeneration in a single-arm longitudinal study.


METHODS
From 1997 to 1998, 39 patients with occult and 33 patients with classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were irradiated with 16 Gy. Fluorescein angiography and measurements of visual acuity were performed before and 3, 6, and 12 months after irradiation.


RESULTS
Complete follow-up data for 1 year were available from 69 patients. The mean patient age was 72 years (range 49-92). Vision decreased in 43, was stable in 18, and improved in 8 cases. The mean vision deteriorated significantly (p = 0.02, Wilcoxon test), particularly within the first 3 months. Patients with occult CNV did significantly better than did those with classic CNV (p = 0.03). The proportion of patients retaining vision > or = 0.2 fell from 65% to 42% (p <0.01), for classic and occult CNV from 50% to 23%, and for occult CNV from 77% to 56% (p < 0.02), respectively. CNV size increased in 30 patients and was stable in 38. Neither age (p = 0.17) nor gender (p = 0.21, chi-square test) influenced prognosis. Four patients reported transitional complaints.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose fractionated radiotherapy with 16 Gy is well tolerated. However, vision and reading ability were not preserved in most patients.
Gripp
Stephan
S
Department of Radiation Oncology, Heinrich-Heine- University, Duesseldorf, Germany. stephan.gripp@uni-duesseldorf.de
Stammen
Johannes
J
Petersen
Claudia
C
Hartmann
Axel
A
Willers
Reinhart
R
Althaus
Christoph
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011932:Reading; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014792:Visual Acuity