title: Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to toxoplasmic chorioretinal scar.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the effect of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization consecutive to a toxoplasmic chorioretinal scar.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients with a previous history of toxoplasmic chorioretinal scar noticed a decrease in visual acuity and metamorphopsia. Fundus examination and fluorescein angiography revealed the presence of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization at the edge of the toxoplasmic chorioretinal scar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first patient, aged 78, was treated by photodynamic therapy followed by three subsequent treatments of feeder vessel by laser photocoagulation. Visual acuity decreased during follow-up in the presence of recurrence of choroidal neovascularization and subretinal fibrosis. The second patient, a 20-year-old lady, was treated with three sessions of photodynamic therapy for a subfoveal choroidal neovascularization related to a toxoplasmic scar. Visual acuity was stabilized on the last follow-up visit at 0.3. The third patient, aged 53, received four treatments with photodynamic therapy at an interval of 3 - 4 months. choroidal neovascularization was stabilized and the last visual acuity was 0.2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary report suggests that photodynamic therapy with verteporfine may be an effective therapeutic modality for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization related to a toxoplasmic chorioretinal scar. Further assessment is needed in order to confirm this preliminary findings.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules Gonin, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nessi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guex-Crosier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambresin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zografos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006414:Hematoporphyrin Photoradiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011166:Porphyrins; D012173:Retinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin
chemical_list: D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin