title: Combination therapy of intravitreal triamcinolone and photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the six months follow-up outcome of combined intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization compared to PDT alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective interventional pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with six months follow-up of IVTA following PDT (Group I, eight eyes) and PDT alone (Group II, eight eyes) were included. Four mg/ 0.1 ml of IVTA was injected 7-10 days following PDT. The patients were reevaluated every month for the first two months and every three months thereafter in both the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group I: The mean age was 65.8+/-11.8 years (range: 47-79 years). Five patients were male. The total treatment sessions in six months were 11 (mean: 1.36). At six months, one eye had >or= 10 letters gain and three eyes had > 10 letters loss. Four eyes had stable vision. Two eyes (25%) developed increased intraocular pressure (>40 mmHg) during follow-up. Group II: The mean age was 58.7+/-11.7 years (range: 46-76 years). Five patients were male. The total treatment sessions in six months were 17 (mean: 2.13). At six months, six eyes had >or= 10 letters gain and none had > 10 letters loss. Two eyes had stable vision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean number of treatment sessions following combination therapy of IVTA (4 mg) and PDT appears relatively less (1.36 at six months) compared to PDT alone (mean: 2.13). (P =0.02).
authors.affiliation: Smt Kanuri Santhamma Retina Vitreous Center, Hyderabad, India. nazimul@lvpei.org
authors.forename: Nazimul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Taraprasad
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Hema
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rawal
authors.forename: Sumasri B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kallukuri
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Mohan Ram
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khanna
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide