title: Ocular photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularization secondary to ocular histoplasmosis syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of ocular photodynamic therapy (OPT) with verteporfin in patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) from ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS) and to compare these results with those for a natural history group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed to identify cases of CNV secondary to OHS treated with OPT. Complete data were available for 38 of 41 eligible eyes. Data regarding the following variables were abstracted from the patient charts: demographic characteristics, previous surgery, angiographic features, number and timing of treatments with OPT, follow-up time, and visual acuity. The visual acuity results of eyes receiving photodynamic therapy were compared with those for a natural history cohort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, OHS patients who received treatment developed 0.88 line of visual improvement. Visual acuity improved or stayed the same in 69% (22 of 32) of eyes, improved by > or = 2 lines in 44% (14 of 32), and improved by > or = 4 lines in 22% (7 of 32). Patients who received OPT were 2.07 times more likely to have improved or constant vision than were those in the natural history group as described in one retrospective series (odds ratio = 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-5.56; P = 0.162). Thirty-eight percent (12 of 32) of eyes had undergone submacular surgery for CNV before any OPT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ocular photodynamic therapy with verteporfin may be beneficial in patients with CNV secondary to OHS, even in the setting of previous submacular surgery.
authors.affiliation: Barnes Retina Institute and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Busquets
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wickens
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Callanan
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Blinder
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Grand
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Holekamp
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boniuk
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bakal
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hollands
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin