Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Concentric retinal pigment epithelium atrophy after a single photodynamic therapy

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To report a case with concentric retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy after a single photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Methods

We report a case of a 33-year-old female patient who developed RPE atrophy after a single standard PDT for treatment of a juxtafoveal, predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Results

After a single PDT treatment, visual acuity increased from 20/50 to 20/20. Six weeks after PDT, a concentric area of RPE atrophy was clearly visible on fluorescein angiogram. This circular area corresponded to the 3500 μm diameter of the laser spot used in the PDT treatment. The visual acuity and the RPE atrophy remained stable over the follow-up period of 3 years.

Conclusions

We are unable to explain the exact mechanism of the observed RPE changes; however, they did not lead to loss of visual acuity. Different reasons for the RPE atrophy such as collateral damage of the choriocapillaris with a subsequent secondary RPE atrophy, a direct photochemical effect due to the early localization of the photosensitizer in the RPE, or a depigmentation or photobleaching of the RPE, which led to a window defect in the fluorescein angiogram without loss of the major functional properties of the RPE, are possible mechanisms involved in the development of the documented lesion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.

References

  1. Haimovici R, Kramer M, Miller JW, Hasan T, Flotte TJ, Schomacker KT, Gragoudas ES (1997) Localization of lipoprotein-delivered benzoporphyrin derivative in the rabbit eye. Curr Eye Res 16:83–90

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Miller JW, Walsh AW, Kramer M, Hasan T, Michaud N, Flotte TJ, Haimovici R, Gragoudas ES (1995) Photodynamic therapy of experimental choroidal neovascularization using lipoprotein-delivered benzoporphyrin. Arch Ophthalmol 113:810–818

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Peyman GA, Kazi AA, Unal M, Khoobehi B, Yoneya S, Mori K, Moshfeghi DM (2000) Problems with and pitfalls of photodynamic therapy. Ophthalmology 107:29–35

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Schlotzer-Schrehard U, Viestenz A, Naumann GO, Laqua H, Michels S, Schmidt-Erfurth U (2002) Dose related structural effects of photodynamic therapy on choroidal and retinal structures of human eyes. Graefe´s Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 240:748–757

    Google Scholar 

  5. Schmidt-Erfurth U, Hasan T, Gragoudas E, Michaud N, Flotte TJ, Birngruber R (1994) Vascular targeting in photodynamic occlusion of subretinal vessels. Ophthalmology 101:1953–1961

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Schmidt-Erfurth U, Laqua H, Schlotzer-Schrehard U, Viestenz A, Naumann GO (2002) Histopathological changes following photodynamic therapy in human eyes. Arch Ophthalmol 120:835–844

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Augenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 , Berlin, Germany

    Joachim Wachtlin, Tim Behme, Heinrich Heimann, Ulrich Kellner & Michael H. Foerster

Authors
  1. Joachim Wachtlin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tim Behme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Heinrich Heimann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ulrich Kellner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Michael H. Foerster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joachim Wachtlin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wachtlin, J., Behme, T., Heimann, H. et al. Concentric retinal pigment epithelium atrophy after a single photodynamic therapy. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 241, 518–521 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-003-0650-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-003-0650-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation