Treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with photodynamic therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of photodynamic therapy using verteporfin in the treatment of patients with subfoveal polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of 16 consecutive patients with subfoveal PCV treated with photodynamic therapy using verteporfin was performed.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients involved was 70.5 years. The mean follow-up time was 12 months. The visual acuity improved in 9 (56.3 %), remained the same in 5 (31.3 %), and decreased in 2 (12.5 %). The mean change in visual acuity was an improvement of 2.38 lines, a difference that was highly significant ( = 0.004). The change in visual acuity was negatively correlated with increasing age. The final visual acuity was positively correlated with initial acuity and negatively correlated with age. These results were confirmed by multiple linear regression. No patient had any lasting complication from the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Subfoveal PCV has no proven method of treatment. Although the follow-up time and the number of patients in this pilot study were limited, the encouraging results and lack of complications suggest that further study is indicated.
Spaide
Richard F
RF
LuEsther T Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York 10021, USA. VRMNY@aol.com
Donsoff
Irene
I
Lam
Deborah L
DL
Yannuzzi
Lawrence A
LA
Jampol
Lee M
LM
Slakter
Jason
J
Sorenson
John
J
Freund
K Bailey
KB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin