title: Combined photodynamic therapy with verteporfin and intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the 7-month results for patients treated with combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin and intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective series of 24 eyes with juxtafoveal or subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD. Patients were treated with PDT with verteporfin and 1.25 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab. All patients were naive to treatment and had either treatment within a 14-day interval. Main outcome measures were visual acuity stabilization (defined as no change or a gain in visual acuity) and retreatment rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the 7-month follow-up, 20 (83%) of 24 patients had stabilization of visual acuity. Sixteen eyes (67%) had improvement in visual acuity. Mean improvement in visual acuity (n = 24) was 2.04 Snellen lines. Fifteen eyes (63%) required only a single combined treatment for CNV resolution. There were no complications, including endophthalmitis, uveitis, and ocular hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that combined treatment of PDT with verteporfin and intravitreal bevacizumab may be useful in treating neovascular AMD by reducing retreatment rates and improving visual acuity. Further investigation with large, controlled trials is warranted to outline the appropriate treatment paradigm for combination therapy.
authors.affiliation: Barnes Retina Institute, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Mandeep S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dhalla
authors.forename: Gaurav K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Blinder
authors.forename: Edwin H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mittra
authors.forename: Asheesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tewari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000068258:Bevacizumab