Photodynamic therapy for retinal angiomatous proliferations and pigment epithelium detachment.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate results of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for subfoveal neovascular age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) and pigment epithelial detachment (PED).


METHODS
Interventional case series.


METHODS
Thirteen eyes (11 stage 2 and 2 stage 3 RAP) underwent PDT. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein and indocyanine-green angiography were performed to evaluate the outcome.


RESULTS
After 13.5 +/- 2.5 months and 1.7 +/- 0.4 treatments, mean BCVA decreased from 20/73 to 20/174 (P = .04). Occlusion of RAP and flattening of PED was observed in three eyes, and persistence of PED in six. Two eyes deteriorated to disciform lesions, one developed hemorrhagic PED, and one evolved toward stage 3 RAP. Three eyes, with PED exceeding 50% of the entire lesion, developed retinal pigment epithelium tear.


CONCLUSIONS
PDT might prove effective for neovascular ARMD with RAP and small PED, whereas it might cause acute retinal pigment epithelium tear for RAP with PED exceeding 50% of the lesion.
Boscia
Francesco
F
Dipartimento di Oftalmologia ed Otorinolaringoiatria, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy. francescoboscia@hotmail.com
Furino
Claudio
C
Sborgia
Luigi
L
Reibaldi
Michele
M
Sborgia
Carlo
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000798:Angiomatosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D004396:Coloring Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D007208:Indocyanine Green