Age related macular degeneration: a study of patients managed with radiotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the west. Radiotherapy affects the evolution of exudative macular degeneration directly by its effect on the endothelium and inflammation modulation. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the improvement in visual acuity and healing of sub retinal neovascular membrane (SRNV) following fractionated radiotherapy.


METHODS
47 patients (58 eyes) of ARMD were retrospectively analyzed. One of the following radiotherapy fractionation schedules was employed in all the patients in this study. a) 15 Gy/5 fractions/1 week (five patients) b) 20 Gy/5 fractions/1 week (19 patients) c) 22.5 Gy/5 fractions/1 week (21 patients) d) 25 Gy/5 fractions/1 week (two patients). VA and funduscopy was taken at each follow-up for objective improvement and to assess the healing of SRNV.


RESULTS
The median follow-up was 7.23 months. The mean improvement in the VA in the entire group was of 0.44 line. (Median 1, SD 1.04). Overall 75% of the eyes showed either steady vision or an improvement in subjective vision analysis. The deterioration free survival was significantly better in the group that had a relatively short duration of symptoms (P = 0.01). Scarring at presentation was a significant adverse factor for improvement in vision after radiotherapy (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients of ARMD treated with radiotherapy, the initial duration of symptoms and scarring of eyes at presentation were significant prognostic variables for improvement in VA after radiotherapy.
Munshi
Anusheel
A
Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India. anusheel8@ hotmail.com
Sarin
Rajiv
R
Dudhani
Ajay
A
Dinshaw
Ketayun A
KA
D000368:Aged; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology