title: Photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascularization in young adult patients.
abstract: We report our experience with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in young adult patients. This was a retrospective study of young adults with CNV treated with PDT. Data collected included age, diagnosis, type and size of CNV, number of treatments, visual outcome, and side effects. Ten patients (11 eyes) were included in the study (mean age 27.2 +/- 13.3 years). Etiologies included multifocal choroiditis (3 eyes), idiopathic CNV (5 eyes), central serous chorioretinopathy (1 eye), and toxoplasma (2 eye). The mean number of treatments was 2 +/- 0.7 and the mean follow-up time was 13.1 +/- 9.5 months. Initial visual acuity (VA) ranged from 20/25 to 20/1,200 (mean logMAR 0.6 +/- 0.5), and improved to 20/20 to 20/250 (mean logMAR 0.46 +/- 0.4) (P = 0.51). Of the four eyes that received additional treatment with oral steroids, one of which also received intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) injections, all had visual acuity improvement of 2 or more lines, while only two of seven eyes that received PDT alone showed such improvement. PDT can improve visual outcome in a subgroup of young patients with subfoveal CNV especially when supplemented with oral steroid and bevacizumab injections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, 49100, Israel. ehrlichy@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Irit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rosenblatt
authors.forename: Dov
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mimouni
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Priel
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Axer-Siegel
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D056833:Central Serous Chorioretinopathy / Q000150:complications; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002833:Choroiditis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab