title: A randomized pilot study of low-fluence photodynamic therapy versus intravitreal ranibizumab for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report 6-month outcomes of a prospective, randomized study comparing the efficacy and safety between low-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal injections of ranibizumab in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, single-center pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy were randomized to receive either low-fluence PDT or intravitreal injections of ranibizumab: 8 eyes in the low-fluence PDT group and 8 in the ranibizumab group. Rescue treatment was considered if subretinal fluid was sustained after completion of primary treatment: low-fluence PDT for the ranibizumab group and ranibizumab injection for the low-fluence PDT group. Main outcome measures were excess foveal thickness, resolution of subretinal fluid, choroidal perfusion on indocyanine green angiography, and best-corrected visual acuity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3 months, the mean excess foveal thickness was reduced from 74.1 ± 56.0 μm to -35.4 ± 44.5 μm in the low-fluence PDT group (P = .017) and from 26.3 ± 50.6 μm to -23.1 ± 56.5 μm in the ranibizumab group (P = .058). After a single session of PDT, 6 eyes (75%) in the low-fluence PDT group achieved complete resolution of subretinal fluid and reduction of choroidal hyperpermeability, whereas 2 (25%) eyes in the ranibizumab group achieved this after consecutive ranibizumab injections. Four eyes (50%) in the ranibizumab group underwent additional low-fluence PDT and accomplished complete resolution. At 3 months, significant improvement of best-corrected visual acuity was not demonstrated in the low-fluence PDT group (P = .075), whereas it was observed in the ranibizumab group (P = .012). However, the tendency toward improvement of best-corrected visual acuity was not maintained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In terms of anatomic outcomes, the effect of ranibizumab injections was not promising compared with that of low-fluence PDT.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: So Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Bae
authors: Jang Won
authors: JW
authors: Heo
authors: Cinoo
authors: C
authors: Kim
authors: Tae Wan
authors: TW
authors: Kim
authors: Joo Yong
authors: JY
authors: Lee
authors: Su Jeong
authors: SJ
authors: Song
authors: Tae Kwann
authors: TK
authors: Park
authors: Sang Woong
authors: SW
authors: Moon
authors: Hum
authors: H
authors: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056833:Central Serous Chorioretinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D004396:Coloring Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D000069579:Ranibizumab