Pattern electroretinographic results after photodynamic therapy alone and photodynamic therapy in combination with intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration

• Published in: Documenta ophthalmologica 2009-08, Vol.119 (1), p.37-42
• Main Authors: Oner, Ayse, Gumus, Koray, Arda, Hatice, Yuce, Yudum, Karakucuk, Sarper, Mirza, Ertugrul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Antibodies, Monoclonal - administration & dosage; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Bevacizumab; Biological and medical sciences; Choroidal Neovascularization - drug therapy; Choroidal Neovascularization - etiology; Choroidal Neovascularization - physiopathology; Diseases of the skin. Cosmetics; Drug Therapy, Combination; Electroretinography - methods; Humans; Injections; Macular Degeneration - complications; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Ophthalmology; Original Research Article; Photochemotherapy; Prospective Studies; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Retinopathies; Treatment Outcome; Visual Acuity - drug effects; Vitreous Body
• ISSN: 0012-4486; 1573-2622
• DOI: 10.1007/s10633-009-9167-8

Purpose To evaluate the changes in pattern electroretinography (PERG) 1 month after photodynamic therapy alone and photodynamic therapy in combination with intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods This is a prospective series of 45 eyes with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD. Twenty eyes were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin and 1.25 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab, and 25 patients were treated with PDT alone. Visual acuities and serial PERG recordings were performed both before and 1 month after therapy. Results Following the 1-month therapy period, visual acuity improved in 56% of patients in the PDT group and 76% of patients in the combination group. No significant ocular or systemic adverse effects were observed in either group. According to the PERG results, the mean P50 amplitude was 1.5 ± 0.9 μV before PDT and improved to 2.1 ± 1.1 μV at 1 month after PDT. The mean P50 amplitudes in the combination therapy group before and after therapy were 1.6 ± 0.8 μV and 2.7 ± 1.2 μV, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between the groups. Conclusions In this small series of eyes with limited follow-up, the combined treatment of PDT with verteporfin and intravitreal bevacizumab seems to be associated with improvement in VA and pattern electroretinographic results when compared to those in the PDT group.