Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare the visual outcomes and retreatment rate of photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with single or three monthly injections of intravitreal ranibizumab for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).
Methods: :
Seventy four consecutive eyes of 74 patients with subfoveal PCV were retrospectively evaluated. Forty three eyes were treated with PDT combined with single injection of intravitreal ranibizumab and 31 eyes with PDT combined with 3 monthly injections. All eyes were followed up for at least 6 months. The best corrected visual acuity 6 months after the initial treatment, logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution gain from baseline, the numbers of additional treatment, and the findings of indocyanine green angiography were statistically compared.
Results: :
Baseline best-corrected visual acuity (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution) was 0.43 ± 0.32 in the single injection +PDT group and 0.36 ± 0.31 in the 3 monthly injections + PDT group (P = 0.22). The best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly at 1, 3, and 6 months in both groups (P < 0.05 at each time point). Mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution gain at 3 and 6 months did not differ significantly between two groups. The single injection + PDT group had significantly fewer intravitreal ranibizumab treatments (P < 0.01) within 6 months. The rate of additional PDT treatment at 3 and 6 months did not differ significantly between two groups. Indocyanine green angiography showed decreased polypoidal complexes in 91% in the single injection +PDT group, and in 94% in the 3 monthly injections + PDT group. Abnormal choroidal vascular network persisted in all eyes.
Conclusions: :
In combination therapy for PCV, single injection of ranibizumab showed equivalent effect with three monthly injections for 6 months.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • photodynamic therapy