title: Case series outcomes at 1 week following verteporfin photodynamic therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the choroidal neovascularization (CNV) fluorescein angiographic perfusion and visual acuity 1 week after photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis AG, Switzerland) on predominantly classic, subfoveal lesions in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case series study was conducted on the 1-week outcome of PDT treatment of 76 of 79 consecutive patients with the subfoveal, predominantly classic CNV form of AMD. Leakage from CNV was assessed by fluorescein angiography and best-corrected visual acuity determined on projected Snellen charts using a standardized protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One week after PDT treatment, absence of fluorescein leakage from CNV was observed in 100% of the 76 patients. Visual acuity improved (at least a three-line gain) in 11 patients (15%), remained unchanged (less than a three-line gain or loss) in 64 patients (84%), and deteriorated (at least a three-line loss) in only one patient (1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The absence of fluorescein leakage from classic CNV at 1 week in all cases was consistent with the published outcome of the clinical Phase I and II PDT trials. Further, vision loss 1 week after PDT for predominantly classic CNV was very uncommon. Therefore 1-week post-PDT angiography is unnecessary for predominantly classic CNV in patients with AMD.
authors.affiliation: Eye and Vision Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Weichuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Beaumont
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin