Photodynamic therapy for juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with multifocal choroiditis.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of visual acuity outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to multifocal choroiditis (MC).


METHODS
Open-label, prospective, interventional case series.


METHODS
Seven patients (seven eyes) diagnosed with juxtafoveal CNV associated with MC at the Eye Clinic of Trieste were considered. Inclusion criteria were the presence of juxtafoveal CNV no larger than 5400 microm in greatest linear dimension and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (Snellen equivalent) of approximately 20/200 or better. PDT was performed according to the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Photodynamic Therapy (TAP) study. The primary outcome was the variation in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) charts visual acuity. In particular, the study considered changes of at least eight letters (approximately <1.5 lines of visual acuity loss) at the 12- and 24-month examinations compared with the baseline examination. Secondary outcomes included fluorescein angiographic features such as progression and area of CNV.


RESULTS
At both the 12- and 24-month examinations, three patients (43%) gained at least 1.5 lines of visual acuity, three patients (43%) did not show changes in either direction, whereas visual acuity decreased by 1.5 or more lines from baseline in one patient (14%). The median CNV area was 0.3 mm(2) at baseline and 0.24 mm(2) at the 12- and 24-month controls, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The positive results of the present study and the absence of treatment-related side effects suggest that PDT may be considered a safe and viable therapeutic option for juxtafoveal CNV for a 24-month period. Further studies including a greater number of patients are needed to confirm these preliminary results.
Parodi
Maurizio Battaglia
MB
Eye Clinic, Ospedale Maggiore, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy. maubp@yahoo.it
Iacono
Pierluigi
P
Spasse
Sonela
S
Ravalico
Giuseppe
G
D000328:Adult; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002833:Choroiditis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin