Treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis with photodynamic therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using verteporfin on the treatment of patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis (MCP), an uncommon disorder with no proven forms of therapy.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of seven consecutive patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to MCP treated with PDT using verteporfin was performed.


RESULTS
The mean age of the 7 patients (all myopic women) was 41.4 years. A mean of 1.86 treatments was performed, and the mean follow-up time was 10 months. Four of the seven patients were treated unsuccessfully with corticosteroids before referral for PDT. The mean improvement of visual acuity was 0.86 line; 3 patients (42.8%) had an improvement in visual acuity representing at least a halving of their visual angle, while the other 4 patients remained stable. There were no treatment-related side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the follow-up time and the number of patients in this study were limited, the use of PDT was associated with stabilization or improvement of visual acuity in patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to MCP. Further study of this treatment modality is indicated.
Spaide
Richard F
RF
LuEsther T Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, NY 10021 USA. VRMNY@aol.com
Freund
K Bailey
KB
Slakter
Jason
J
Sorenson
John
J
Yannuzzi
Lawrence A
LA
Fisher
Yale
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002833:Choroiditis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015864:Panuveitis / Q000150:complications*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin