Brief report
Exudative idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and photodynamic therapy with verteporfin

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9394(02)01516-7Get rights and content

Abstract

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.

Section snippets

Case 1

A man aged 58 years had sudden visual loss in his right eye (OD). The left eye (OS) was functionally and clinically unremarkable. The patient’s OD best-corrected visual acuity was 10/50 according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) charts, and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity was 1.35. Fundus examination showed a large retinal macular detachment with hemorrhages. Fluorescein angiography disclosed an early hyperfluorescent, a late-leaking nodular zone in the foveal region,

Case 2

Patient 2 was a woman aged 57 years who was evaluated for sudden visual loss in her right eye. The left eye had poor visual function (best-corrected visual acuity 10/100, Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity 0.60) due to a large macular zone of retinal pigment epithelium atrophic disturbances. The right eye ETDRS charts best-corrected visual acuity was 10/50 and the Pelli Robson contrast sensitivity was 1.20. At fundus examination, several hard exudates surrounding a large retinal macular

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