Photodynamic therapy of subfoveal neovascular membrane in type 2A idiopathic juxtafoveolar retinal telangiectasis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy on subfoveal neovascular membrane related to type 2A idiopathic juxtafoveolar retinal telangiectasia.


METHODS
Interventional case series.


METHODS
Retrospective review of four eyes of four patients who underwent photodynamic therapy for subfoveal neovascular membrane secondary to idiopathic juxtafoveolar retinal telangiectasia. Ocular photodynamic therapy with verteporfin was performed in all cases using standard protocols. Results are given in terms of final visual acuity and neovascular membrane activity based on clinical examination, fluorescein and indocyanin green angiography, and, in two cases, optical coherence tomography.


RESULTS
Baseline visual acuity of 20/30 and 20/40 (x2) was maintained in three patients after one, two, and three sessions of photodynamic therapy respectively, and a follow-up of 23, 21, and 9 months. Leakage specific to the subfoveal neovascular membrane ceased on the fluorescein angiography. In the other patient, the final vision decreased from 20/50 to 20/200 after four sessions of photodynamic therapy and a follow-up of 14 months. Although there was still mild persistent leakage on the fluorescein angiography, neovascular membrane size was unchanged, and no subretinal fluid was demonstrated on optical coherence tomography.


CONCLUSIONS
Data from this case series suggest that photodynamic therapy may be effective in managing subfoveal neovascular membrane associated with idiopathic juxtafoveolar retinal telangiectasia, which usually carries a poor visual prognosis. Prospective study is required to confirm the beneficial effect of this treatment.
Snyers
Bernadette
B
Cliniques Universitaires St. Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. snyers@ofta.ucl.ac.be
Verougstraete
Claire
C
Postelmans
Laurence
L
Leys
Anita
A
Hykin
Philip
P
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D007208:Indocyanine Green