title: Photodynamic therapy for retinal angiomatous proliferations and pigment epithelium detachment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Oftalmologia ed Otorinolaringoiatria, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy. francescoboscia@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boscia
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Furino
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sborgia
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reibaldi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sborgia
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D007208:Indocyanine Green