Long-term follow-up of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy after photodynamic therapy with verteporfin.
OBJECTIVE
To report on the clinical features of three cases of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) during long-term follow-up after photodynamic therapy (PDT).


METHODS
Interventional case reports.


METHODS
Among the participants in the Japanese Age-Related Macular Degeneration Trial (JAT) at our hospital, a PCV was seen in three eyes at baseline on retrospective analysis of indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) using fundus camera. We report the clinical features of these cases during more than 4 years follow-up.


RESULTS
The mean number of PDT treatments was 5.7. Improved visual acuity (VA) and cessation of fluorescein leakage was achieved within 18 months in all eyes; however, subretinal hemorrhage and subfoveal fluid recurred due to new or recurrent PCV. The final VA decreased markedly in two eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
The eyes with PCV, which had been treated successfully with PDT, may have developed new or recurrent PCV during long-term follow-up. Periodical ICGA would be needed to detect abnormal choroidal vascular changes.
Sayanagi
Kaori
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Medical School, Room E7, 2-2 Yamadaoka, 565-0871 Suita, Japan.
Gomi
Fumi
F
Sawa
Miki
M
Ohji
Masahito
M
Tano
Yasuo
Y
D000368:Aged; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008297:Male; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D004396:Coloring Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D007208:Indocyanine Green