scholarly journals Clinical Implications of Pachyvessels in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuo Ijuin ◽  
Hiroki Tsujinaka ◽  
Hiromasa Hirai ◽  
Hironobu Jimura ◽  
Shigeya Nakao ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is one of the disorders within the pachychoroid spectrum diseases. The presence of pachyvessels is one of the characteristics of pachychoroid disorders. However, the relationship between the presence of pachyvessels and the clinical characteristics of PCV eyes has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the presence of choroidal pachyvessels and the clinical characteristics of eyes with PCV. Methods: The medical records of patients who were diagnosed with PCV and were treatment-naïve were reviewed. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, fundus photography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) were used to obtain images of the choroid. The presence of pathologically dilated outer choroidal vessels, pachyvessels, was determined by ICGA images. These pachyvessels were confirmed to correspond with the large choroidal vessels in the EDI OCT images. The PCV eyes were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of pachyvessels and clinical features and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were evaluated between the two groups. Results: Eighty-six eyes of 84 patients with PCV were evaluated. Pachyvessels were detected in 48 eyes (55.8%). The mean SFCT was 203.9 ± 83.9 μm in all 86 eyes, and it was significantly thinner in eyes with pachyvessels (+) than without pachyvessels (-) (183.2 ± 58.4 μm vs 230.2 ± 103.1 μm; P =0.01). The differences in the incidence of subretinal fluid, pigment epithelial detachments, and hemorrhages between the two groups were not significant. However, the PCV eyes in pachyvessels (+) group with hemorrhage had the thinnest choroid ( P =0.047). The choroidal features of the fellow eyes were similar to those of the PCV affected eyes, that is, the fellow eyes in pachyvessels (+) group had pachyvessels and the fellow eyes in pachyvessels (-) group did not have pachyvessels. Conclusions: Pachyvessels were presented 55.8% in eyes with PCV, and these eyes had the thin SFCT. The presence of pachyvessels and attenuation of the inner choroid were probably due to the pathological changes in the eyes with PCV.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuo Ijuin ◽  
Hiroki Tsujinaka ◽  
Hiromasa Hirai ◽  
Hironobu Jimura ◽  
Shigeya Nakao ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is one of the disorders within the pachychoroid spectrum diseases. The presence of pachyvessels is one of the characteristics of pachychoroid disorders. However, the relationship between the presence of pachyvessels and the clinical characteristics of PCV eyes has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the presence of choroidal pachyvessels and the clinical characteristics of eyes with PCV. Methods: The medical records of patients who were diagnosed with PCV and were treatment-naïve were reviewed. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, fundus photography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) were used to obtain images of the choroid. The presence of pathologically dilated outer choroidal vessels, pachyvessels, was determined by ICGA images. These pachyvessels were confirmed to correspond with the large choroidal vessels in the EDI OCT images. The PCV eyes were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of pachyvessels and clinical features and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were evaluated between the two groups. Results: Eighty-six eyes of 84 patients with PCV were evaluated. Pachyvessels were detected in 48 eyes (55.8%). The mean SFCT was 203.9 ± 83.9 μm in all 86 eyes, and it was significantly thinner in eyes with pachyvessels (+) than without pachyvessels (-) (183.2 ± 58.4 μm vs 230.2 ± 103.1 μm; P =0.01). The differences in the incidence of subretinal fluid, pigment epithelial detachments, and hemorrhages between the two groups were not significant. However, the PCV eyes in pachyvessels (+) group with hemorrhage had the thinnest choroid ( P =0.047). The choroidal features of the fellow eyes were similar to those of the PCV affected eyes, that is, the fellow eyes in pachyvessels (+) group had pachyvessels and the fellow eyes in pachyvessels (-) group did not have pachyvessels. Conclusions: Pachyvessels were presented 55.8% in eyes with PCV, and these eyes had the thin SFCT. The presence of pachyvessels and attenuation of the inner choroid were probably due to the pathological changes in the eyes with PCV.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuo Ijuin ◽  
Hiroki Tsujinaka ◽  
Hiromasa Hirai ◽  
Hironobu Jimura ◽  
Shigeya Nakao ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is one of the disorders within the pachychoroid spectrum diseases. The presence of pachyvessels is one of the characteristics of pachychoroid disorders. However, the relationship between the presence of pachyvessels and the clinical characteristics of PCV eyes has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the presence of choroidal pachyvessels and the clinical characteristics of eyes with PCV.Methods: The medical records of patients who were diagnosed with PCV and were treatment-naïve were reviewed. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, fundus photography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) were used to obtain images of the choroid. The PCV eyes were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of pachyvessels and clinical features and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were evaluated between the two groups.Results: Eighty-six eyes of 84 patients with PCV were evaluated. Pachyvessels were detected in 48 eyes (55.8%). The mean SFCT was 203.9 ± 83.9 μm in all 86 eyes, and it was significantly thinner in eyes with pachyvessels (+) than without pachyvessels (-) (183.2 ± 58.4 μm vs 230.2 ± 103.1 μm; P=0.01). The differences in the incidence of subretinal fluid, pigment epithelial detachments, and hemorrhages between the two groups were not significant. However, the PCV eyes in pachyvessels (+) group with hemorrhage had the thinnest choroid (P=0.047). The choroidal features of the fellow eyes were similar to those of the PCV affected eyes, that is, the fellow eyes in pachyvessels (+) group had pachyvessels and the fellow eyes in pachyvessels (-) group did not had pachyvessels. Conclusions: Pachyvessels were presented 55.8% in eyes with PCV, and these eyes had the thin SFCT. The presence of pachyvessels and attenuation of the inner choroid were probably due to the pathological changes in the eyes with PCV.


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.


2020 ◽  
pp. bjophthalmol-2020-317537
Author(s):  
Janice Marie Jordan-Yu ◽  
Kelvin Teo ◽  
Qiao Fan ◽  
Jose Carlos Gana ◽  
Anna Karina Leopando ◽  
...  

PurposeTo compare phenotypic and genetic variations in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) between Caucasian and Asian patients.MethodsWe analysed phenotypic and genotypic data from two sites, Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Portugal and Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore. Baseline fundus photography, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography, indocyanine green and fluorescein angiography scans were analysed by respective reading centres using a standardised grading protocol. Single nucleotide polymorphisms across 8 PCV loci were compared between cases and controls selected from each population.ResultsOne hundred and forty treatment-naïve PCV participants (35 Portuguese and 105 Singaporean) were included. The Portuguese cohort were older (72.33±8.44 vs 68.71±9.40 years, p=0.043) and were comprised of a lower proportion of males (43% vs 71%, p=0.005) compared with the Singaporean cohort. Differences in imaging features include higher prevalence of soft drusen (66% vs 30%, p=0.004), lower prevalence of subretinal haemorrhage (14% vs 67%, p<0.001), smaller polypoidal lesion (PL) area (0.09±0.09 vs 0.76±0.93 mm2, p<0.001), lower ratio of PL to branching vascular network area (3% vs 38%, p<0.001) and lower central retinal thickness (346.48±93.74 vs 493.16±212.92 µm, p<0.001) in the Portuguese cohort. CETP rs3764261 (OR 2.467; 95% CI 1.282 to 4.745, p=0.006) in the Portuguese population was significantly associated with PCV and CFH rs800292 (OR 1.719; 95% CI 1.139 to 2.596, p=0.010) in the Singaporean population, respectively.ConclusionAmong Asian and Caucasian patients with PCV, there are significant differences in the expression of phenotype. We also identified different polymorphisms associated with PCV in the two populations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge M. Simão ◽  
Cláudia V. Farinha ◽  
João P. Marques ◽  
Sandrina Nunes ◽  
Isabel M. Pires ◽  
...  

Purpose: To characterize the morphological features of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in a large Caucasian population. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study of treatment-naïve patients with PCV. Baseline fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography (FA,ICGA) were assessed by trained medical graders. Typical PCV features were explored, and retinal and choroidal thickness (RT,CT) measurements were performed. Results: Seventy-nine eyes of 73 patients (mean age,72.6±11.9 years) were included. ICGA identified macular polyps in 89.9% of cases. SD-OCT revealed mostly subretinal fluid (93.6%) and a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) detachment in 91.4%, with sharp protrusion in 67.0%. Polyp-like structures were seen in 74.3%, mostly adherent to an elevated RPE (69.6%). Type 1 neovascularization (NV) was identified in 74.7%, while 16.5% had a mixed NV. The mean macular CT was 220.9±83.2 µm (range,67.9-403.6). Diffuse and focal pachychoroid were observed in 26.6% and 30.4%. Soft drusen were reported in 62.0%, but retinal hemorrhage occurred in only 19.0%. Conclusion: The morphological features of PCV in Caucasians are similar to those reported in Asians. Pachychoroid signs were found in nearly half of our cohort. However, the mean age at presentation, high prevalence of soft drusen, and low prevalence of large subretinal hemorrhages make PCV closer to age-related macular degeneration in this ethnic group.


2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 1370-1380
Author(s):  
Areum Jeong ◽  
Min Sagong

Purpose: To investigate the influence of the number of engorged vortex veins on treatment outcomes in eyes with treatment-naïve polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) undergoing intravitreal aflibercept monotherapy.Methods: The medical charts of 65 patients with PCV who underwent intravitreal aflibercept injection were reviewed retrospectively. The number of quadrants of vortex vein engorgement was evaluated in the middle phase of ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiography, which was classified as extended engorgement if the dilated choroidal vessels expanded the macula. Associations between treatment outcomes with age, subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), central retinal thickness, and vortex vein engorgement were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses.Results: There were no significant differences in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), SFCT, and central retinal thickness at baseline and 12 months, according to the number of vortex vein engorgement. However, an increase in the number of vortex vein engorgement extending to the macula was associated with a thick SFCT (p = 0.038), a greater number of injections (p = 0.041), low BCVA at 12 months (p = 0.038), and a less dry macula at 12 months (p = 0.026). In the multivariate analysis, the number of quadrants with vortex vein engorgement extending to the macula was significantly associated with BCVA changes at 12 months, total number of injections, and a dry macula at 12 months (p = 0.030, p = 0.030, p = 0.020, respectively).Conclusions: More quadrants with vortex vein engorgement extending to the macula in PCV was associated with unfavorable visual outcomes, a less dry macula at 12 months, and a greater number of injections at 1 year after intravitreal aflibercept injection. Clinicians should keep in mind that vortex vein engorgement extending to the macula may be a new biomarker in predicting treatment outcomes in PCV.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hun Gu Choo ◽  
Jin Hae Lee ◽  
Hyun Sub Oh ◽  
Soon Hyun Kim ◽  
Yong Sung You ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a type of age-related macular degeneration that can cause permanent vision loss. The purpose of this paper was to report the one-year outcomes of fixed-dosing aflibercept therapy for the treatment of PCV. Methods This was a prospective, single-arm, interventional case series study of 25 PCV patients; 12 pre-treated and 13 treatment-naïve patients. The patients were treated and monitored for 12 months. Each patient was administered with an aflibercept (2.0 mg) injection every month for the first 3 months (the loading phase), and thereafter, once every 2 months. At every follow-up visit, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) test, fundus examination, and optical coherence tomography for measuring the central subfield macular thickness (CSMT) were performed. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography were conducted at baseline and at 4 and 12 months. Results After 12 months of aflibercept therapy, the mean BCVA of the patients significantly improved from 65.48 letters at baseline to 69.91 letters (p=0.001), and the CSMT significantly decreased from 406.92 um at baseline to 276.12 um (p< 0.001). Additionally, ten patients (40%) showed complete polyp regression. The treatment-naïve patients showed a statistically significant improvement in BCVA from 66.58 letters at baseline to 76.36 letters at 12 months, and a significant decrease in CSMT, from 462 to 243 um. In the pre-treated group, there was no change in BCVA (64.46 letters), and the decrease in CSMT from 356.08 to 303.69 um was not statistically significant. Conclusions The fixed-dosing aflibercept regimen is effective for treating patients with PCV and is more effective in treatment-naïve patients than in pre-treated patients. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service (CRiS), Republic of Korea. Identifer: KCT0005798, Registered: Jan 20, 2021. Retrospectively registered, URL: https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/en/search/search_result_st01.jsp?seq=18546


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geun Woo Lee ◽  
Hyeon Cheol Roh ◽  
Se Woong Kang ◽  
A. Young Kim ◽  
Hoon Noh ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics and longitudinal changes in exudative pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) and non-exudative PNV. This retrospective cohort study involved 81 eyes of PNV diagnosed by multimodal imaging including optical coherence tomography angiography. At baseline, they were divided into exudative PNV group and non-exudative PNV group depending on the presence of subretinal fluid. The clinical features of both groups and the longitudinal changes were investigated and compared. There were 55 eyes with non-exudative PNV and 26 eyes with exudative PNV. Individuals with non-exudative PNV were older, more frequently asymptomatic and had a higher prevalence of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in the opposite eye (all P’s < 0.05). Whereas individuals with exudative PNV showed thicker choroid and more frequent history of central serous chorioretinopathy (all P’s < 0.001). During about 12 months of longitudinal observation, the transformation into polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy was noted in 4 eyes of non-exudative PNV group, whereas in none of the exudative PNV group. Exudative PNV and non-exudative PNV seem to be separate entities with different epidemiological parameters. Non-exudative PNV, which is frequently found without symptoms at an older age, is suspected to be the significant precursor lesion of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. In contrast, exudative PNV may share the same pathophysiology as central serous chorioretinopathy.


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):  
Maria Vadalà ◽  
Massimo Castellucci ◽  
Giulia Guarrasi ◽  
Giovanni Cillino ◽  
Vincenza Maria Elena Bonfiglio ◽  
...  

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.


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