Structural and vascular changes of the choroid in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy after intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Montorio ◽  
Mariapaola Giordano ◽  
Marina Concilio ◽  
Gilda Cennamo

Introduction: To identify the changes in vessel density (VD) of choriocapillaris (CC) and in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and to evaluate their correlation with functional response after three monthly intravitreal injections of Ranibizumab (loading phase) in patients affected by Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: A total of 30 eyes of 30 PCV patients and 30 eyes of 30 healthy subjects as control group were enrolled in this prospective study. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured at baseline and after one month from third intravitreal injections in each patient. The VD of CC was evaluated in macular area by means of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA). Central macular thickness (CMT) and SFCT were analyzed by Enhanced Depth Imaging (EDI)-OCT. Results: The VD of CC showed statistically lower values in PCV patients at baseline respect to after loading phase (LP) and normal eyes (p<0.001). CMT and SFCT revealed a statistically significant reduction after LP (p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the reduced SFCT, CMT at baseline and the improvement of BCVA after LP (p<0.05). Conclusion: The close relationship between the thinner SFCT and better visual outcome after LP reveals the role of the EDI-OCT assessment of choroid as predictive biomarker of functional response to anti-VEGF therapy. This tool could provide a quantitative evaluation of structural features of choroid avoiding mistakes of evaluation at OCTA.

2021 ◽  
pp. 128-131
Author(s):  
Divya Alex

Purpose: Compare the effect of Combination therapy (PDT+Anti-VEGF) and Anti-VEGF monotherapy on choroidal vascularity indices and morphological parameters in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: Retrospective, cohort study involving 33eyes with a diagnosis of PCV and had visible sclerochoroidal boundary on enhanced depth imaging. Cases were treated either with combination (n=17) or Anti-VEGF monotherapy (n=16). Demographic details, visual acuity assessment, OCT analysis was considered from baseline to the 3rd and 6th month follow-up visits. Choroidal vascularity analysis including choroidal thickness, Total Choroidal Surface Area (TCSA), Total Stromal area (TSA), Total Luminal Area (TLA) and Choroidal Vascularity Index (CVI) assessment were done with ImageJ software using the technique of image binarization. Results: Disease activity was significantly higher in the Anti-VEGF monotherapy arm compared to the combination therapy arm both at 3 and 6 months. When compared to baseline values, there was statistically significant decrease in choroidal thickness, Double layer sign (DLS) width, TCSA, TSA and TLA (P<0.05) in the combination therapy arm. Whereas, Anti-VEGF monotherapy arm showed an increase in the mean sub foveal choroidal thickness and DLS width at both visits. Complete collapse of PED, reduction in DLS width which was achieved only in combination therapy arm showed significant positive correlation with the resolution of the disease. CVI did not show a statistically significant reduction in both the arms. Conclusion: In view of better outer retinal and choroidal morphological changes and vascular remodelling, our study strongly supports the superiority of combination therapy over Anti-VEGF monotherapy in PCV


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth M. Gilmour ◽  
David Young ◽  
Aaron Jamison ◽  
Monica Precup ◽  
David F. Gilmour

Abstract BackgroundThe prevalence of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is significantly higher amongst Asian populations compared to Caucasian, and evidence regarding the clinical outcomes of Caucasian patients is limited. This retrospective study sought to investigate real-world clinical outcomes of Caucasian PCV patients treated with polypoidal verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) in combination with anti-VEGF therapy up to 36 months post treatment. MethodsConsecutive PCV patients who received PDT between 2011 and 2017 were included. Mean change in visual acuity (VA) measured by ETDRS letter score and mean change in central subfield thickness (CST) were the main outcome measures. Data was collected at baseline, 3, 12, 24 and 36 months. Regression analyses were carried out on pre-treatment clinical features to determine if there were any factors associated with a good visual outcome (better than or equal to 70 ETDRS letters at 12 months). ResultsSeventy six patients (96% Caucasian) were included in the analysis. Mean change in VA was -1, -4, and 0 ETDRS letters at 12, 24, and 36 months respectively. CST was reduced by a mean of -51, -54, and -55 microns at 12, 24, and 36 months. Better pre-treatment VA was the only pre-treatment clinical feature associated with a good visual outcome at 12 months (OR 1.16, p<0.001).ConclusionsPDT in combination with anti-VEGF therapy maintains VA and may reduce anti-VEGF therapy burden in Caucasian patients with PCV. Better pre-treatment VA is associated with a good visual outcome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-Chu Chi ◽  
Yi-No Kang ◽  
Yi-Ming Huang

AbstractPolypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a vision-threatening disease common in Asian populations. However, the optimal treatment for PCV remains under debate. We searched the databases with optimal searching strategy. The study included randomized clinical trials and prospective studies that recruited patients with active PCV who had received interventions, including PDT, anti-VEGF, or a combination of PDT and anti-VEGF. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology was used for rating the quality of evidence. Our study included 11 studies involving 1277 patients. The network meta-analysis of RCTs revealed the anti-VEGF group, early combination group, and late combination group had significant BCVA changes compared with the PDT group. Early combination therapy led to a significant decrease in CRT compared with PDT, anti-VEGF, and late combination therapy. Additionally, the early combination group had a significantly higher complete polyp regression rate than the anti-VEGF group. No significant differences were detected in the analysis of the number of anti-VEGF injections and safety profile. This network meta-analysis revealed that early combination therapy exhibited better efficacy related to anatomical outcomes than other therapies. Nonetheless, no significant differences related to BCVA change could be detected between anti-VEGF and late combination therapy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 617-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manabu Miyata ◽  
Sotaro Ooto ◽  
Kenji Yamashiro ◽  
Hiroshi Tamura ◽  
Masayuki Hata ◽  
...  

Background/aimsTo evaluate the 5-year visual and anatomical outcomes after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy alone or in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT), followed by pro re nata (PRN) anti-VEGF therapy with or without PDT, for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).MethodsThis retrospective, observational study included 61 consecutive patients with treatment-naïve symptomatic PCV who were followed for 5 years. Twenty eyes (20 patients) initially received PDT and intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR), followed by a PRN regimen of anti-VEGF therapy with or without PDT (combination group), while 41 eyes (41 patients) initially received only IVR every 3 months, followed by a PRN regimen of anti-VEGF monotherapy (IVR group). Macular atrophy including the fovea was confirmed using colour fundus photography and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.ResultsIn both groups, the visual acuity (VA) at 1 year was better than the baseline VA, whereas the 3-year, 4-year and 5-year VA values were similar to the baseline VA. There was no significant difference in the 5-year VA, 5-year central retinal thickness and incidence of macular atrophy between the two groups (p=0.63, 0.72 and 0.06, respectively). In the combination group, the 5-year VA was correlated with the 5-year incidence of macular atrophy (p=0.02, r=0.51).ConclusionsA PRN regimen for PCV may have a limited effect for the long-term maintenance of improved VA. Macular atrophy may occur more frequently with combination therapy and is possibly associated with the 5-year VA. Thus, combination therapy should be carefully selected for patients susceptible to macular atrophy.


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