title: Efficacy of combined photodynamic therapy and intravitreal bevacizumab injection versus photodynamic therapy alone in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) and optical coherence tomography-guided intravitreal bevacizumab injection versus PDT alone for the treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 39 patients with symptomatic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy who received combination therapy with PDT and intravitreal bevacizumab injections or PDT monotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. Best-corrected visual acuity, number of treatments, and optical coherence tomography and angiographic findings were compared between the two patient groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the PDT monotherapy group (n = 19), the mean number of PDTs was 1.89, whereas in the combined therapy group (n = 20), mean 1.30 times of PDT and 2.90 times of intravitreal bevacizumab injection were performed during the 12 months of follow-up. The number of PDTs was significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.032). At 12 months, the mean improvement in best-corrected visual acuity was 3.0 lines in the combined group and 1.6 lines in the PDT monotherapy group. At 12 months, improved vision by ≥ 3 lines was achieved in 55.0% in the combined therapy group and 36.8% in the PDT monotherapy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined PDT and bevacizumab therapy effectively treated polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with fewer PDTs compared with PDT alone during the 1 year of follow-up. Combined treatment appeared to result in better visual acuity, but a larger scale study is required to draw a definite conclusion.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sang Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Hyeong Gon
authors: HG
authors: Yu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D007208:Indocyanine Green