title: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monotherapy in the treatment of submacular hemorrhage secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections on submacular hemorrhage secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven eyes from 27 polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy patients with submacular hemorrhage involving the fovea were included in the analyses. All patients were treated by anti-VEGF injection with an initial 3 loading injections by month, followed by an as-needed reinjection. Visual acuity, central macular thickness, submacular hemorrhage size, and the occurrence of vitreous hemorrhage were examined during a 12-month follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of injections administered over the course of 12 months was 3.59 ± 1.04. The size of submacular hemorrhages averaged 18.2 ± 13.8 mm². The mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity at baseline was 1.02 ± 0.51 (Snellen equivalent, 20/204) and improved significantly to 0.76 ± 0.48 (Snellen equivalent, 20/115) at 12 months (P = .02). Mean central macular thickness decreased from 311.7 ± 124.5 μm at baseline to 246.8 ± 102.8 μm at 12 months (P = .01). At 12 months, visual acuity improved by 0.3 logMAR or more in 10 eyes (37%), stabilized (change between 0 and 0.3 logMAR) in 11 eyes (40.7%), and decreased by 0.3 logMAR or more in 6 eyes (22.2%). Three eyes (11.1%) were subjected to vitrectomy to clear a vitreous hemorrhage that occurred after anti-VEGF therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal anti-VEGF injection monotherapy may be a valuable therapeutic option in treating eyes with submacular hemorrhage associated with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: chojoo@kimeye.com.
authors.forename: Han Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoung Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Graduate School of Medicine, KyungHee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Gon
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chul Gu
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011127:Polyps / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014823:Vitreous Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D000069579:Ranibizumab