Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate our preliminary results of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of choroidal neovascular (CNV) age–related macular degeneration (ARMD) in two groups of ten patients matched by age and systemic hypertension and different by the presence of atherosclerotic lesions of the large vessels. Methods:Among patients affected by ARMD and eligible for PDT treatment, we selected ten patients with documented atherosclerotic lesions (group I) and we matched them with 10 patients sorted by age (> 65 yrs) and presence of systemic hypertension (group II). PDT with Visudyne (Verteporfin) was administered. All patients had classic subfoveal CNV. Mean age was 70.1 yrs (SD 2.1) in group I vs. 69.5 (SD 3.4) in group II. Treatment was applied according to the recommendations of the TAP study. The patients were scheduled for follow–up examinations at 2 and 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months, including visual acuity (ETDRS–chart), biomicroscopy of the posterior segment (dilated) and fluorescein angiography (FA) and were retreated if FA showed signs of leakage from CNV. Results:To complete treatment, an average of 2 (SD 0.8) sessions were given in group I and 1.8 (SD 0.7) in group II . Mean visual acuity at baseline was 0.20 in both groups. At 6 months, in 60% of the patients, visual acuity remained stable or increased by 3 lines or more on the ETDRS–chart in group I vs. 80% of the patients in group II (p >0.3). In group I, mean final visual acuity was 0.11 and in 30% of them was less than 0.1 vs 0.13 and 40% in group II, respectively. Conclusions: Our preliminary results showed a more favorable trend in patients without associated atherosclerotic lesions. Larger serie of patients and longer followup are needed to verify this data.
Keywords: retinal neovascularization • photodynamic therapy • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications