Exudative idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and photodynamic therapy with verteporfin

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology 2002-08, Vol.134 (2), p.277-280
• Main Authors: Quaranta, Maddalena, Mauget-Faÿsse, Martine, Coscas, Gabriel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Choroid - blood supply; Choroid - pathology; Choroid Diseases - diagnosis; Choroid Diseases - drug therapy; Choroidal Neovascularization - diagnosis; Choroidal Neovascularization - drug therapy; Coloring Agents; Contrast Sensitivity; Dilatation, Pathologic; Diseases of the eye; Exudates and Transudates; Female; Fluorescein Angiography; Humans; Indocyanine Green; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Photochemotherapy; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; Porphyrins - therapeutic use; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Verteporfin; Visual Acuity
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9394(02)01516-7

PURPOSE: To report two cases of exudative idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy treated by photodynamic therapy with verteporfin. DESIGN: Interventional case reports. METHODS: Two patients, a man aged 58 years and a woman aged 57 years, with recent visual impairment in the right eye (OD) (both eyes best-corrected visual acuity: 10/50 and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity 1.35 and 1.20) and angiographically proved subfoveal idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy were treated with photodynamic therapy using verteporfin (Visudyne; Novartis SA, Rueil Malmaison, France). Functional and angiographic outcomes were assessed 6 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: In Patient 1, 3 months after treatment, best-corrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity improved (10/16 and 1.50) and then remained stable throughout the 12 months after treatment. In Patient 2, 6 weeks after treatment, vision and contrast sensitivity were 10/20 and 1.35; and at 3 months, were improved and stabilized at 10/12.5 and 1.50. Angiographically, photodynamic therapy with verteporfin was associated with nonperfusion and occlusion of the exudative polypoidal dilations. No acute recurrence was noted during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: In subfoveal exudative idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, photodynamic therapy with verteporfin may be associated with beneficial functional results.