Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide preceding photodynamic therapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide 1 week before photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of 70 eyes of 66 consecutive patients who were treated with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide followed by standard PDT 1 week later. Group 1 consisted of 42 eyes that received one or more previous treatments with PDT alone and responded poorly. Group 2 consisted of 28 eyes that had never received PDT.


RESULTS
No statistically significant change in mean visual acuity was seen during the follow-up period for either group. At 12 months, 90% of group 1 eyes and 80% of group 2 eyes lost less than 2 lines of Snellen visual acuity. A mean of 1.24 additional PDT sessions were required in group 1 eyes and 1.04 additional sessions in group 2 eyes during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
In eyes with exudative AMD, intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide preceding PDT with verteporfin results in stabilization of visual acuity and a decreased need for re-treatments with PDT. This regimen may be superior to PDT monotherapy.
Roth
Daniel B
DB
Retina Vitreous Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Clinical Academic Building, 4th Floor, 125 Paterson Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1977, USA.
Kulkarni
Kaushal M
KM
Walsman
Scott
S
Modi
Amy
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide