Abstract
Introduction: :
Objectives:To determine the effect of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) plus intravitreal antiangiogenic drug on normal choroidal vascularization.
Methods: :
PDT with Visudyne® was performed in the right eye of two groups of albino rabbits (six animals each), immediately after PDT, intravitreal pegaptanib (Macugen®) 0,12 mg in Group 1 and intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis®) 0,20 mg in Group 2 were injected. As Control Group we performed PDT alone in the right eye of six animals. Choroidal circulation was studied with fluorescein angiography at 7, 14 and 28 days. An histopathologycal study was performed at this time after enucleation.
Results: :
We found differences in the occlusion/permeability of the choroidal vessels. In the Control Group mean permeable choroidal vessels seen crossing the PDT-lesion was 8'3 (SD 1'29) vs mean 1'8 (SD 3'57) in Group 1 and mean 0'8 (SD 1'07) in Group 2. The histopathologycal study shows total dissapearance of choroidal vessels in the PDT-lesion in groups 1 and 2 vs permeable choroidal vessels in control Group.
Conclusions: :
The use of antiangiogenic drugs with PDT produces a total occlusion in the vascular choroidal vessels which lasts at one month.Group 1Control group
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • choroid • vascular endothelial growth factor