Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in white patients.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To report on a series of white patients in the United States with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

METHODS:

This is a retrospective chart review of 27 patients at a single center with PCV.

RESULTS:

The mean age was 74.3 with 48% being male. The most common presenting diagnosis was exudative age-related macular degeneration in 59%, and it took 17.5 months to diagnose PCV. During this time, patients received one antivascular endothelial growth factor injection every 1.3 months. The most common reason for suspecting PCV was a large retinal pigment epithelial detachment or a poor response to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Once PCV was diagnosed, most underwent photodynamic therapy. In those who received photodynamic therapy, the fluid and/or age-related macular degeneration decreased in 86%. The vision improved in 41% with 36% maintaining stable vision. Patients received only one additional injection every 3.95 months after photodynamic therapy.

CONCLUSION:

This is one of the larger series of PCV in an entirely white population. It emphasizes the importance of diagnosis in whites as PCV can masquerade as recalcitrant exudative age-related macular degeneration. Common findings were a temporal or peripapillary location and the presence of lipid. After photodynamic therapy, the patients still required antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy, but the injection burden was decreased by 67% and vision was found to be improved or maintained in 77% of patients.

• Authors: Stephen J Davis, Andreas K Lauer, Christina J Flaxel
• Journal: Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.) (Retina) Vol. 34 Issue 11 Pg. 2185-91 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 1539-2864 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24978430 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Photosensitizing Agents
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Choroid Diseases (diagnosis, drug therapy, pathology)
• Early Diagnosis
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Peripheral Vascular Diseases (diagnosis, drug therapy, pathology)
• Photochemotherapy (methods)
• Photosensitizing Agents (therapeutic use)
• Retrospective Studies
• United States
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Visual Acuity