title: Combining photodynamic therapy and feeder vessel photocoagulation: a pilot study.
abstract: Patients receiving photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis AG), a new treatment for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and pathologic myopia, should be scheduled for follow-up every 12 weeks (+/-2 weeks) after the initial treatment. However, important data from clinical practice and from small series studies suggest that this period between treatment may be too long for some patients. In this pilot study we explore the safety and the possibility of improving the extent and duration of PDT benefit using feeder vessel treatment (FVT). This study suggests that the combination of verteporfin therapy and FVT is a safe procedure; it also suggests a possibility for prolonging the effect of verteporfin therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Opthalmology, University of Brescia, Spediali Civili, Brescia, Italy. geovanni.staurenghi@unimi.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Staurenghi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massacesi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Musicco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Viola
mesh_terms: D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin