Comparison of intravitreal bevacizumab to photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: short-term results.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the short-term therapeutic effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) to those of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).


METHODS
Retrospective interventional case study. Eighty-nine eyes of 89 patients with symptomatic PCV were treated by IVB or PDT. Eighteen eyes were treated with a single injection of IVB (s-IVB group), 22 eyes with three consecutive monthly IVB injections (m-IVB group), and 49 eyes with PDT alone (PDT group). The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT-determined central foveal thickness (CFT) were evaluated before, and one and three months after the treatment. For statistical analyses, one-factor ANOVA and Chi-square test were used.


RESULTS
The differences in the BCVA and CFT among the three groups at the baseline were not significant (P=0.992, P=0.981, respectively). Three months after the treatment, the BCVA improved by> 0.2 logMAR units in two out of 18 eyes (11%) in the s-IVB group, three out of 22 eyes (14%) in the m-IVB group, and 15 out of 49 eyes (31%) in the PDT group (P=0.124). A decrease in the CFT by> 20% was achieved in six out of 18 eyes in the s-IVB group, ten eyes (46%) in the m-IVB group, and 35 eyes (71%) in the PDT group (P=0.009). The resolution of polyps was achieved in three out of 18 eyes in the s-IVB group, one eye (5%) in the m-IVB group and 35 eyes (71%) in the PDT group (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The better short-term therapeutic outcomes in the PDT group than in the s-IVB and m-IVB groups indicate that PDT may be more effective than IVB in short term after treatment for PCV.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Yoshinori
Y
Mitamura
Masayasu
M
Kitahashi
Mariko
M
Kubota-Taniai
Shuichi
S
Yamamoto
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab