Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Korean patients with large submacular hemorrhage.
OBJECTIVE
To determine and compare the clinical characteristics, visual prognosis and treatment of hemorrhagic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (HPCV) with those of hemorrhagic choroidal neovascularization (HCNV) due to age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 44 consecutive eyes with a submacular hemorrhage comprising more than 50% of the neovascular lesion. Patients were diagnosed as having HPCV or HCNV on the basis of indocyanine green angiography.


RESULTS
Of the 44 eyes with submacular hemorrhage, 26 were classified as HPCV and 18 as HCNV. The baseline patient characteristics were similar for both groups. At the final follow-up the HPCV group had 17 eyes showing visual improvement, four showing maintained vision, and five showing visual deterioration. In contrast, the HCNV group had four eyes showing visual improvement, one showing maintained vision, and 13 showing visual deterioration. Visual acuity of < 0.1 at follow-up was found in 7 (27%) of HPCV eyes and 10 (56%) of HCNV eyes. PDT was performed in 15 HPCV eyes, of which 13 (87%) showed improvement or no change in visual acuity, while only 2 (22%) of the 9 HCNV eyes responded similarly after PDT. Eyes treated with PDT did not have better outcomes compared to eyes that underwent other types of treatment (Fisher's exact test, p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
PCV accounts for the largest proportion of submacular hemorrhage in Koreans. PCV showed a better visual prognosis than CNV.
Yoon
Jin Sook
JS
Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Sinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Jonghyun
J
Lee
Sung Chul
SC
Koh
Hyoung Jun
HJ
Kim
Sung Soo
SS
Kwon
Oh Woong
OW
D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology
D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator