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Study: PDT may not completely occlude CNV
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CLEVELAND — Verteporfin ocular photodynamic therapy does not appear to lead to permanent and complete occlusion of choroidal neovascularization, according to a study. Treatments that can permanently close CNV without incurring retinal damage are still needed, the authors said.
Peter Kaiser, MD, and colleagues here at Cole Eye Institute retrospectively reviewed eight eyes of eight patients who underwent submacular surgery for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) after having previously received verteporfin ocular photodynamic therapy (PDT). One patient had presumed histoplasmosis, three had age-related macular degeneration, two had pathologic myopia, one had punctate inner choroiditis, and one had idiopathic CNV.
Choroidal neovascular membranes were removed anywhere from 3 to 152 days after PDT. Areas of vascular occlusion at 3 days were not seen at later time points upon histopathologic and ultrastructural examination. All specimens had patent CNV; signs of vascular damage were seen in all but the 3-day specimen.
The study is published in the March issue of American Journal of Ophthalmology.