Combined photodynamic therapy and intravitreal triamcinolone for nonsubfoveal choroidal neovascularization.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the 12-month results for a group of patients with nonsubfoveal choroidal neovascularization who were treated with combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide.


METHODS
Patients with nonsubfoveal choroidal neovascularization, which was defined as either juxtafoveal or extrafoveal neovascularization, were treated with PDT immediately followed by an intravitreal injection of 4 mg of triamcinolone acetonide. Need for retreatment was based on fluorescein angiographic evidence of leakage at 3-month follow-up intervals. The main outcome measures were visual acuity and the proportion of patients developing subfoveal extension.


RESULTS
Of the 15 patients, 9 were women and 6 were men (mean age +/- SD, 80 +/- 7.5 years). The mean baseline visual acuity was almost 20/60 (mean logMAR = 0.46), and 14 of the 15 eyes had juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization. At 3, 6, and 9 months, the patients had significant improvement in the mean visual acuity (P = 0.002, 0.001, and 0.007, respectively), but at the end of the 12-month follow-up period, the mean visual acuity was slightly worse than 20/40 (mean logMAR = 0.34), which was not statistically significant at an alpha level adjusted for multiple comparisons of .013 (P = .057) as compared with the baseline visual acuity. One patient had subfoveal extension of choroidal neovascularization. The mean number of treatments was 1.9. Three patients (20%) developed an intraocular pressure of >24 mmHg during follow-up, a threshold used to institute pressure reduction therapy. No patient developed endophthalmitis.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of patients in this pilot study was limited; however, the visual acuity response and the low incidence of subfoveal extension suggest that PDT combined with intravitreal triamcinolone for the treatment of nonsubfoveal choroidal neovascularization merits further investigation as a first-line treatment.
Spaide
Richard F
RF
LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, New York, New York, USA. rickspaide@ayhoo.com
Sorenson
John
J
Maranan
Leandro
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019233:Retreatment; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide