Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with multifocal choroiditis

PURPOSE: Evaluation of visual acuity outcomes of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to multi, focal choroiditis. DESIGN: Open-label, prospective, interventional case series. METHODS: Thirteen patients (13 eyes) diagnosed with subfoveal CNV associated with multifocal choroiditis at the Eye Clinics of Trieste and Udine were considered for the study. Inclusion criteria were the presence of subfoveal CNV no larger than 5,400 mum in greatest linear dimension and best,corrected visual acuity, Snellen equivalent, of approximately 20/400 or better. The primary outcome was the number of eyes that had fewer than 8 letters lost (less than approximately 1.5 lines) at the 12,month examination compared with the baseline examination. Secondary outcomes included fluorescein angiographic features such as progression and CNV size. RESULTS: Baseline and final best-corrected visual acuity were 0.52 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (20/62(-2) Snellen equivalent) and 0.55 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (20/62(-2) Snellen equivalent), respectively. By the 12-month visit, one patient (7.7%) had gained at least 1.5 lines, two patients (15.4%) had lost 1.5 or more lines, and no patient lost 3 or more lines of visual acuity, whereas 10 patients (84.6%) showed less than 1.5-line change. Mean CNV area was 0,69 mm(2) and 0.63 mm(2) at baseline and at the 12,month visit, respectively. By the month 12 examination, patients had received an average of 1.7 treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy may be considered a viable therapeutic option for subfoveal CNV associated with multifocal choroiditis at least for a 1 year period. Further studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm these results. (C) 2004 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.