Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to central serous chorioretinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).


METHODS
Prospective interventional, noncomparative case series.


METHODS
After the diagnosis of a subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to CSC, 26 eyes of 24 patients were treated with photodynamic therapy with verteporfin. Patients were then followed up every 2 to 3 months, with further treatments performed as deemed necessary through fluorescein angiography. The mean observation was 22.2 months (range, 6-36 months; median, 24 months).


RESULTS
There was marked visual improvement, with patients gaining a mean of 1.6 lines after 1 year and a mean of 2.2 lines after 2 years. There was a statistically significant change in visual acuity from baseline to 12 and 24 months (mean difference, -0.16, P =.03; and mean difference, -0.22, P =.02; respectively; t test for both). There was no correlation between patients' age or greatest linear dimension of the lesions and the final outcome (P>.10 for all). No patient experienced any adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin resulted in a beneficial outcome in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to CSC, without serious adverse effects in this case series.
Ergun
Erdem
E
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna Medical School and Danube Hospital, Vienna, Austria. erdem.ergun@akh-wien.ac.at
Tittl
Michael
M
Stur
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin