1. Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in pachychoroid: combined treatment with photodynamic therapy and aflibercept
- Author
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Massimo Castellucci, Salvatore Cillino, Maria Vadalà, Vincenza Bonfiglio, Giulia Guarrasi, Giovanni Cillino, Alessandra Casuccio, Vadala M., Castellucci M., Guarrasi G., Cillino G., Bonfiglio V.M.E., Casuccio A., and Cillino S.
- Subjects
Oncology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,genetic structures ,Recombinant Fusion Proteins ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Angiogenesis Inhibitors ,Photodynamic therapy ,Combined treatment ,Internal medicine ,Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy ,Humans ,Medicine ,Pachychoroid ,Fluorescein Angiography ,Aged ,Retrospective Studies ,Aflibercept ,business.industry ,eye diseases ,Ophthalmology ,Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ,Treatment Outcome ,Photochemotherapy ,Intravitreal Injections ,business ,Swept Source OCT ,Tomography, Optical Coherence ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Introduction To evaluate the effects of combined therapy using intravitreal Aflibercept (IVA) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) on polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy related to pachychoroid disease (PPCV).Methods Patients with PPCV were treated with PDT combined with 3 IVA injections on a monthly basis, followed by pro re nata criteria. The 12-month follow-up consisted of multiple revaluations of visual acuity and SSOCT parameters of clinical activity.Results Nineteen eyes were included in the study; mean age was 65.5 years. Visual acuity improved after 12 months (0.35 ± 0.25 to 0.2 ± 0.20 logMAR, p = 0.005). Percentage of eyes with intraretinal and subretinal fluid reduced from baseline to the 12-month follow-up (from 52.6–10.5%, p = 0.12, and from 89.5–5.3% p = 0.0009, respectively). Central retinal and mean macular thicknesses reduced (258 ± 39.6 to 204.8 ± 38.8 µm p = 0.04 and 293.8 ± 32.1 to 248.1 ± 29.6 µm p = 0.017 respectively). Central choroidal and mean choroidal thicknesses also displayed a reduction (328.6 ± 54.9 to 289.8 ± 44.6 µm p = 0.001 and 314.5 ± 55.3 to 287.9 ± 47.6 µm p = 0.015 respectively). The mean number of injections was 4.6/year.Conclusion The results support the use of a combined therapy with Aflibercept and PDT in PPCV. This treatment would act in synergy, with anti-VEGF controlling exudation and PDT closing the aneurysmal vessel and reducing choroidal congestion.
- Published
- 2022