[Clinical effects of photodynamic therapy with Verteporfin for age-related macular degeneration 1: three-month results].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the 3-month effects after one-time photodynamic therapy (PDT) for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
The subjects were 122 patients with subfoveal CNV due to AMD detected by fluorescein angiography (FA). FA, indocyanine-green angiography (IA), and the examination of visual acuity were done before and 3 months after PDT. The diameter of CNV in FA was compared, and ophthalmological examination before the treatment determined whether there were any factors associated with a reduction or suppression of CNV.


RESULTS
3 months after PDT, 89 eyes had a significant (p < 0.001) reduction of CNV (41 eyes had blockage of CNV). In case of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) detected by IA, CNV was significantly reduced compared with the effects of other types of therapy (p = 0.032). Moreover, CNV was blocked significantly when fibrin tissue was present on a part of CNV before treatment (p = 0.026). Visual acuity was maintained or improved in 96 eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
One-time PDT was effective in reducing or suppressing CNV as confirmed by FA.
Tochigi
Kasumi
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Surugadai Hospital of Nihon University School of Medicine, 1-8-13 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8309, Japan. tkasuminn@yahoo.co.jp
Matsumoto
Yoko
Y
Kyo
Tetsuhiro
T
Yamaguchi
Takuhiro
T
Komoto
Atsushi
A
Yuzawa
Mitsuko
M
Shimotsuma
Koujiro
K
Fukuhara
Shunichi
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin