title: Two-year results of combined intravitreal anti-VEGF agents and photodynamic therapy for retinal angiomatous proliferation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the efficacy of a combination of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections and photodynamic therapy (PDT), over 24 months, for patients with symptomatic retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 13 treatment-naïve eyes of 12 patients (7 men, 5 women; age range (mean), 63-92 (77) years) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) plus PDT as initial treatment. Retreatment was performed with IVB plus PDT until February 2009 or intravitreal ranibizumab and PDT from March 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) significantly improved from 0.26 at baseline to 0.40 at 24 months (P = 0.013). The mean improvement in BCVA at 24 months from baseline was 1.79 lines. The central retinal thickness decreased significantly from 431 to 142 microns at 24 months (P < 0.0001). Complete occlusion of the retinal-retinal anastomosis was achieved in seven of the 10 eyes at 24 months. The mean number of PDT treatments during 24 months was 2.8 and the mean number of injections was 3.4. Geographic atrophy was seen in four eyes without significant decline of VA at 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined anti-VEGF and PDT for RAP patients effectively maintained or improved VA and reduced exudation, without severe adverse events, over 24 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, Japan. smasaaki@fmu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D004396:Coloring Agents; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D007208:Indocyanine Green