Case series outcomes at 1 week following verteporfin photodynamic therapy

• Published in: Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 23; no. 2; p. 166
• Main Authors: Tan, Weichuan, Beaumont, Paul E, Chang, Andrew A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2003
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Choroidal Neovascularization - drug therapy; Choroidal Neovascularization - etiology; Choroidal Neovascularization - pathology; Female; Fluorescein Angiography; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Macular Degeneration - complications; Macular Degeneration - drug therapy; Macular Degeneration - pathology; Male; Photochemotherapy; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; Porphyrins - therapeutic use; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Verteporfin; Visual Acuity - physiology
• ISSN: 0275-004X
• DOI: 10.1097/00006982-200304000-00005

To examine the choroidal neovascularization (CNV) fluorescein angiographic perfusion and visual acuity 1 week after photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis AG, Switzerland) on predominantly classic, subfoveal lesions in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A retrospective case series study was conducted on the 1-week outcome of PDT treatment of 76 of 79 consecutive patients with the subfoveal, predominantly classic CNV form of AMD. Leakage from CNV was assessed by fluorescein angiography and best-corrected visual acuity determined on projected Snellen charts using a standardized protocol. One week after PDT treatment, absence of fluorescein leakage from CNV was observed in 100% of the 76 patients. Visual acuity improved (at least a three-line gain) in 11 patients (15%), remained unchanged (less than a three-line gain or loss) in 64 patients (84%), and deteriorated (at least a three-line loss) in only one patient (1%). The absence of fluorescein leakage from classic CNV at 1 week in all cases was consistent with the published outcome of the clinical Phase I and II PDT trials. Further, vision loss 1 week after PDT for predominantly classic CNV was very uncommon. Therefore 1-week post-PDT angiography is unnecessary for predominantly classic CNV in patients with AMD.