title: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in white patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on a series of white patients in the United States with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective chart review of 27 patients at a single center with PCV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 74.3 with 48% being male. The most common presenting diagnosis was exudative age-related macular degeneration in 59%, and it took 17.5 months to diagnose PCV. During this time, patients received one antivascular endothelial growth factor injection every 1.3 months. The most common reason for suspecting PCV was a large retinal pigment epithelial detachment or a poor response to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Once PCV was diagnosed, most underwent photodynamic therapy. In those who received photodynamic therapy, the fluid and/or age-related macular degeneration decreased in 86%. The vision improved in 41% with 36% maintaining stable vision. Patients received only one additional injection every 3.95 months after photodynamic therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is one of the larger series of PCV in an entirely white population. It emphasizes the importance of diagnosis in whites as PCV can masquerade as recalcitrant exudative age-related macular degeneration. Common findings were a temporal or peripapillary location and the presence of lipid. After photodynamic therapy, the patients still required antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy, but the injection burden was decreased by 67% and vision was found to be improved or maintained in 77% of patients.
authors: Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Davis
authors: Andreas K
authors: AK
authors: Lauer
authors: Christina J
authors: CJ
authors: Flaxel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A