[Evaluation of the macular function by focal electroretinography and by fluorescein angiography in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration submitted to verteporfin photodynamic therapy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate macular function by focal electroretinography and fluorescein angiography (FA) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration submitted to verteporfin photodynamic therapy (VPT).


METHODS
Prospective study involving 22 patients with age-related macular degeneration and predominantly classic subfoveal neovascular membrane, in non consecutive series, treated with VPT and followed for 12 months. They had their best corrected visual acuity measured by ETDRS chart, changes of lesion measured by fluorescein angiography and cone function assessed by focal electroretinography at baseline and each 3-month follow-up.


RESULTS
All 22 patients completed the scheduled follow-up. After a mean of 3.5 sessions of treatment per patient, the mean visual acuity variation was not significant at the end of study. Eleven patients showed variation > or =1 line. 86% of patients achieved stabilization of lesion leakage at the end of the study. Focal electroretinography showed a mean of 194.88 nV in amplitude and 29.19 ms in latency and did not present a significant variation during treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
There were no significant differences in focal electroretinography amplitudes and latencies after a 9-month period. Visual acuity did not show important variations during the 12 months. The decrease of lesion size showed a significant difference at 12 months with negative correlation between the amplitude of focal electroretinography and best corrected visual acuity.
Universidade Federal de São Paulo - São Paulo (SP) - Brasil.
Akiyoshi
A
Oshima
Adriana
A
Berezovsky
Solange Rios
SR
Salomão
Paula Yuri
PY
Sacai
Rogério Alves
RA
Costa
Arnaldo Furman
AF
Bordon
Michel Eid
ME
Farah
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin