title: 12-month retrospective study and review of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the 12-month visual outcome of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (PDT-V) for patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration and to verify the predictive role of visual and angiographic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective, interventional, consecutive case series study included subjects with different forms of subfoveal CNV. All patients received PDT-V according to Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration With Photodynamic Therapy/Visudyne in Photodynamic Therapy guidelines. A review of medical and angiographic records was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred sixteen patients were divided into 4 study groups: group I, 60 eyes with classic CNV; group II, 56 eyes with predominantly classic CNV; group III, 42 eyes with minimally classic CNV; and group IV, 58 eyes with occult CNV. In groups I and II, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was moderately decreased, without reaching a statistically noticeable level during the entire follow-up; lesion size reduction only reached significance in group I. Groups III and IV showed evident worsening of BCVA (P < 0.05), despite concomitant reduction in CNV size (statistically remarkable only for occult CNV). All study groups exhibited a significant correlation between higher baseline BCVA and better final visual outcome. In groups II and IV, smaller baseline CNV sizes also favorably influenced final BCVA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standardized PDT-V minimizes deterioration of central vision only in patients with classic and predominantly classic CNV. Irrespective of the CNV type, better BCVA at presentation represents a good predictive sign. In predominantly classic and occult lesions, minor initial CNV dimension is also a positive prognostic element.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Incorvaia
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campa
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parmeggiani
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menzione
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Della Corte
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dell'omo
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costagliola
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin