title: Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularization associated with retinal pigment epithelial detachment in age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED) in age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty eyes of 26 patients with CNV and PED were treated with PDT. The eyes were divided in two groups based on CNV location in relation to PED; group 1 included 13 eyes with CNV within PED, and group 2 included 17 eyes with CNV at the edge of PED. The median follow-up was 16 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients received a mean +/- SD of 2.83 +/- 1.26 treatments (range, 1-6 treatments). In the whole cohort, the mean preoperative visual acuity changed from 20/144 (0.86 +/- 0.42 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution [logMAR]) to 20/182 (0.96 +/- 0.51 logMAR; P = 0.39) at month 18. Five eyes (16%) gained a mean of 1.5 Snellen lines from baseline. Twelve eyes (40%) lost a mean of 1.7 Snellen lines of visual acuity. Vision in 13 eyes (44%) remained stable. In group 1, the mean visual acuity at month 12 was 20/303 (1.18 +/- 0.51 logMAR) and significantly (P = 0.015) worse than that, 20/110 (0.74 +/- 0.42 logMAR), in group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT can improve or stabilize visual function in 60% of eyes with vascularized PED. CNV at the edge of PED appears to respond more favorably to PDT. Appropriate patient selection and prompt treatment are essential to obtain the best outcomes after verteporfin therapy.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Ospedale di Melegnano, Milan, Italy. pece.retina@mclink.it
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Pece
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Isola
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Vadalà
authors: Giliola
authors: G
authors: Calori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin