Recurrence of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy after photodynamic therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the recurrence of polypoidal lesions after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).


METHODS
This is a retrospective review of data on 28 patients with PCV treated with PDT. The recurrent polypoidal lesions were observed with fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography.


RESULTS
In 26 of the 28 eyes the PCV remained inactive for more than 12 months after one to three treatments with PDT. Recurrence of the polypoidal lesions after more than a 12-month inactive period was reported in eight eyes: three at 15 months, two at 18 months, and three at 21 months. Kaplan-Meier estimates of recurrence were 11.5% at 15 months, 20.4% at 18 months, and 38.8% at 21 months, with no subsequent recurrence until passage of 36 months of inactivity after the last PDT. Additional PDT after recurrence improved or preserved visual acuity in 80% of those treated compared to the visual acuity before the first PDT.


CONCLUSIONS
Recurrence of PCV occurs in about 40% of eyes treated for PCV even after a long period of inactivity, so careful follow-up is needed.
Yamashiro
Kenji
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Japan. yamashro@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.|Department of Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Kobe, Japan. yamashro@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.|RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Japan. yamashro@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Tsujikawa
Akitaka
A
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Nishida
Akihiro
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Japan.|Department of Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Kobe, Japan.
Mandai
Michiko
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Japan.|RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Japan.
Kurimoto
Yasuo
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Japan.|Department of Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Kobe, Japan.
D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity
D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green