Abstract
Purpose: :
The purpose of this study is to clarify the efficiency of combined therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab injections and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) patients.
Methods: :
We retrospectively reviewed 10 consecutive eyes (10 patients; 7 men, 3 women) with subfoveal RAP treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injections and PDT. Patients ranged in age from 63 to 89 years, average 78 years. All patients were performed without prior treatment and were followed at least three months (mean, 5 months). For this study using bevacizumab was approved by the Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee at Fukushima Medical University and Kagawa University. PDT was performed one or two days after the intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25mg) injection. The method of PDT with verteporfin was according to the protocol of the Treatment of AMD with Photodynamic therapy study.
Results: :
The mean logMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at baseline and 3 months were 0.79 and 0.48, respectively. The mean change in BCVA at 3 months from baseline was an improvement of 3.1 lines. Visual acuity improved in 6 eyes (60%, improved by≥3 lines), remained in 4 eyes (40%). Central retinal thickness significantly decreased from 398 ± 118 to 184 ± 42 (p=0.01). None of all patients needed retreatment at 3 months. There were no complications such as severe vision loss, endophthalmitis, and systemic events.
Conclusions: :
Combined intravitreal bevacizumab and PDT for RAP was an effective treatment for maintaining or improving in visual acuity and reducing or eliminating the edema.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • photodynamic therapy • retinal pigment epithelium