Use of fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy patients following photodynamic therapy

Background: Exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a sight-threatening event in many elderly people. Some patients have a much better outcome in visual acuity (VA) than others after treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin. The combination of fluorescein angiography (FA) and indocyanine green (ICG) angiography using the Heidelberg Retina Angiograph II (HRA 2) should make a delineation of distinct pattern(s) possible in order to better select and assess therapy.Methods: This is a retrospective, case-control, single-centre study. We identified a total of 168 eyes of 168 patients from July 2003 to June 2006, including 30 eyes of 30 patients with better visual outcome, defined in this study as VA ≤0.48 logMAR (≥20/60 Snellen chart) at the end of the study. Best-corrected VA, maximal central retinal thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography, and results of the FA/ICG angiography using the HRA 2 were analyzed. In this article, we discuss patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and their characteristics.Results: The average follow-up time was 15.3 months (range 4–28 months). Seventeen (57%) of the 30 patients with better visual outcome had PCV. All patients in the group with better visual outcome needed fewer PDT treatments compared with our control group of patients with an exudative AMD.Interpretation: Simultaneous FA/ICG angiography using the HRA 2 allowed delineation of a subgroup of patients with PCV who showed a better visual outcome compared with those with other types of exudative AMD, after treatment with PDT.     

En-face optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis and management of age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging modality providing high-resolution images of the central retina that has completely transformed the field of ophthalmology. While traditional OCT has produced longitudinal cross-sectional images, advancements in data processing have led to the development of en-face OCT, which produces transverse images of retinal and choroidal layers at any specified depth. This offers additional benefit on top of longitudinal cross-sections because it provides an extensive overview of pathological structures in a single image. The aim of this review was to discuss the utility of en-face OCT in the diagnosis and management of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). En-face imaging of the inner segment/outer segment junction of retinal photoreceptors has been shown to be a useful indicator of visual acuity and a predictor of the extent of progression of geographic atrophy. En-face OCT has also enabled high-resolution analysis and quantification of pathological structures such as reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and choroidal neovascularization, which have the potential to become useful markers for disease monitoring. En-face Doppler OCT enables subtle changes in the choroidal vasculature to be detected in eyes with RPD and AMD, which has significantly advanced our understanding of their pathogenesis. En-face Doppler OCT has also been shown to be useful for detecting the polypoid lesions and branching vascular networks diagnostic of PCV. It may therefore serve as a noninvasive alternative to fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography for the diagnosis of PCV and other forms of the exudative macular disease.     

Recurrence of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy after photodynamic therapy

Purpose  To evaluate the recurrence of polypoidal lesions after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods  This is a retrospective review of data on 28 patients with PCV treated with PDT. The recurrent polypoidal lesions were observed with fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography. Results  In 26 of the 28 eyes the PCV remained inactive for more than 12 months after one to three treatments with PDT. Recurrence of the polypoidal lesions after more than a 12-month inactive period was reported in eight eyes: three at 15 months, two at 18 months, and three at 21 months. Kaplan-Meier estimates of recurrence were 11.5% at 15 months, 20.4% at 18 months, and 38.8% at 21 months, with no subsequent recurrence until passage of 36 months of inactivity after the last PDT. Additional PDT after recurrence improved or preserved visual acuity in 80% of those treated compared to the visual acuity before the first PDT. Conclusions  Recurrence of PCV occurs in about 40% of eyes treated for PCV even after a long period of inactivity, so careful follow-up is needed.     

Chorioretinal anastomosis after photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

An 80-year-old woman was treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) to the left eye for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). About 3 months after PDT, her left eye developed a chorioretinal anastomosis with severe atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium in the macula; visual acuity in this eye was 20/1000. She received a second session of PDT, plus an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide. About 3 months after the second treatment, the chorioretinal anastomosis was enlarged and the retinal vessels involved in the anastomosis were more dilated. About 1 year after the first PDT, visual acuity in the left eye had stabilized at 20/400. Development of a chorioretinal anastomosis is a distinct possibility following PDT in eyes with PCV, and can lead to poor visual recovery.     

息肉状脉络膜血管病变的现状和进展

息肉状脉络膜血管病变(polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy,PCV)是一种发病原因和发病机制不明的疾病,一些研究表明其可能与某些基因有关。PCV眼底镜下表现常与渗出型年龄相关性黄斑变性(age-related macular degeneration,AMD)相似,通过吲哚青绿血管造影(indocyanine green angiography,ICGA)及光学相干断层扫描(optic coherence tomography,OCT)等影像学检查可予以鉴别。目前主要通过眼底镜下特征性的橘红色息肉状损害和ICGA下见血管网边缘息肉状血管损害对PCV进行诊断。主要的治疗方法包括光动力疗法(photodynamic therapy,PDT)、抗血管生成药物及联合疗法等。我们从历史、流行病学、病理学、发病机制、基因、临床表现、影像学、诊断及治疗等方面对其进行综述,并提出了对PCV的研究方向的讨论和展望。     

Combined photodynamic therapy and ranibizumab for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: a 2-year result and systematic review

AIM: To report a cohort of patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) followed by intravitreal ranibizumab injection 24-48h later, and to compare the results between eyes with PCV treated by PDT followed by intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection and intravitreal anti-VEGF injection followed by PDT by Meta-analysis. METHODS: Retrospective study and systematic literature review. Medical records of patients with PCV who were initially treated using PDT followed by intravitreal ranibizumab injection 24-48h after PDT and had completed at least 2y follow-up were reviewed and analyzed. Clinical data, including age, sex, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus photograph, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography were investigated. A systematic literature review was also conducted, and a visual outcome of studies over 1y was compared using Meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients were included in the study. Mean BCVA at baseline and follow-up at 1 or 2y were 0.71±0.61, 0.51±0.36 and 0.68±0.51 logMAR, respectively. The cumulative hazard rate for recurrence at 1 and 2y follow-up was 15.4% and 30.3% respectively. The percentage of eyes with polyps regression at 3, 12 and 24mo follow-up was 88.5%, 84.6% and 67.3% respectively. A Meta-analysis based on 22 independent studies showed the overall vision improvements at 1, 2 and 3y follow-up were 0.13±0.04 (P<0.001), 0.12±0.03 (P<0.001), 0.16±0.06 (P<0.001), respectively. The proportion of polyps regression at 1y follow-up was 64.6% (95%CI: 51.5%, 77.7%, P<0.001) in 434 eyes treated by intravitreal anti-VEGF agents before PDT and 76.0% (95%CI: 64.8%, 87.3%, P=0.001) in 199 eyes treated by intravitreal anti-VEGF agents after PDT. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal ranibizumab injection 24-48h following PDT effectively stabilizes visual acuity in the eye with PCV. PDT followed by intravitreal anti-VEGF agents may contribute to a relatively higher proportion of polyps’ regression as compared to that of intravitreal anti-VEGF before PDT.     

Intravitreal bevacizumab and ranibizumab injections for patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Purpose

To compare the effectiveness of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and ranibizumab in patients with treatment-naïve polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods

A total of 66 and 60 eyes of 121 consecutive patients who received intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) or ranibizumab (0.5 mg) injection for treatment of PCV were retrospectively reviewed. After initial three loading injections by month, injection was performed as needed. Main outcome measures included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), foveal center thickness (FCT) as assessed by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and change in polypoidal lesion on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA).

Results

At 12 months, average number of injections was 4.72±1.84 in the bevacizumab group and 5.52±1.54 in the ranibizumab group. Mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution of BCVA from baseline at 12 months after injection improved by 0.11 in the bevacizumab group (P=0.02) and by 0.14 in the ranibizumab group (P=0.01). Average FCT decreased from 368±62.48 to 298±40.77 μm in the bevacizumab group (P=0.01) and from 371±50.79 to 286±36.93 μm in the ranibizumab group (P=0.01). Polyp regression rate was 24.2% (16 eyes out of 66 eyes) in the bevacizumab group and 23.3% (14 eyes out of 60 eyes) in the ranibizumab group. There was no statistically significant difference in BCVA improvement achieved, FCT improvement achieved, and polyp regression rate between groups.

Conclusion

Intravitreal injections of bevacizumab and ranibizumab have similar effects in stabilization of visual acuity, macular edema, and regression of polypoidal complex with PCV eyes.     

相干光断层扫描诊断息肉样脉络膜血管病变的研究进展

息肉样脉络膜血管病变(polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy,PCV)表现为眼底后极部脉络膜异常分支血管网末端局限性膨隆,呈息肉状改变,伴复发性出血,并有浆液性或出血性色素上皮脱离.自发现以来,吲哚青绿血管造影(indocyanine green angiography,ICGA)被认为是诊断PCV的金标准.随着相干光断层扫描(optical coherence tomography,OCT)成像技术的不断发展,从时域-OCT中特征性的“双层征”到在谱域-OCT中可清晰呈现的异常血管网和息肉状改变,再到穿透性更强的OCT血管造影技术中扩张的脉络膜血管和息肉状结构反射信号的改变,逐步为PCV的非侵入性诊断提供更多可靠依据.     

Two-year results of intravitreal ranibizumab for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with recurrent or residual exudation

Aim

To clarify the 2-year efficacy of ranibizumab for patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with recurrent or residual exudation from branching vascular networks after previous photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 26 eyes of 26 Japanese patients (22 men, 4 women) in this pilot study. All eyes had PCV with complete regression of polypoidal lesions resulting from PDT detected by indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), but recurrent or residual leakage from branching vascular networks on fluorescein angiography and evidence of persistent fluid on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Three consecutive intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 ml) were administered to all eyes.

Results

The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved significantly from 0.55 at baseline to 0.35 at 12 months (P<0.0001) and 0.43 at 24 months (P=0.0012). The mean increases in the BCVA 12 and 24 months after baseline were 1.95 and 1.23 lines, respectively. The mean central retinal thickness significantly decreased from 295 μm at baseline to 189 μm at 12 months (P<0.0038) and 163 μm at 24 months (P<0.001). The mean numbers of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) injections at months 12 and 24, including the initial treatments, were 5.8 and 8.8, respectively. Five (19.2%) eyes had recurrent polypoidal lesions on ICGA at a mean of 15.7 months after baseline. At month 24, OCT showed no exudation in 17 (65.4%) of the 26 eyes. No adverse events developed.

Conclusions

IVR injections maintained or improved the VA and retinal thickness at 24 months in eyes with PCV with recurrent or residual exudation from branching vascular networks after previous PDT.     

息肉样脉络膜血管病变的疗效及其形态学评价方法的研究进展

息肉样脉络膜血管病变(polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy,PCV)是以息肉样血管病灶伴分支状血管网为特征的脉络膜血管异常疾病,具有迁延复发、容易出血的特性,目前治疗仍具有挑战性.简单、灵敏、可靠的检查技术对于制定和调整治疗方案、提高疗效是重要的.新近出现的相干光血管造影技术形象地显示PCV治疗前后病变形态变化,并在监测复发方面相比传统OCT技术具有更灵敏的优越性.     

玻璃体腔注射康柏西普治疗湿性老年性黄斑变性及息肉状脉络膜血管病变

目的：研究玻璃体腔注射康柏西普(Conbercept)治疗湿性老年性黄斑变性(wet age-related macular degeneration, wAMD)和息肉状脉络膜血管病变(polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, PCV)的疗效。

方法：临床确诊为wAMD患者16例16眼,确诊为PCV患者5例5眼纳入研究。所有患者常规行玻璃体腔注射康柏西普治疗,根据需要补充治疗。定期行最佳矫正视力和中央视网膜厚度、脉络膜厚度测量。

结果：6mo时平均注射次数为2.93±0.27。基线及6mo时平均最佳矫正视力分别为0.87±0.52和0.74±0.43,差异无统计学意义。6mo时视网膜中央厚度从352.24±131.82降至251.73±69.41μm(P<0.01),脉络膜厚度从331.93±115.35降至304.72±104.59μm(P<0.05)。

结论：玻璃体腔注射康柏西普治疗wAMD及PCV可稳定视力,降低患眼视网膜厚度,具有良好的安全性。     

息肉状脉络膜血管病变的诊治现状与进展

息肉状脉络膜血管病变(polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy,PCV)是一组常见的视网膜疾病,有色人种多见,在我国主要患者群以60岁左右为主,且女性较多见,该病目前发病原因不明且尚无特效药,眼底镜下可见橘红色病灶、出血及渗出,结合吲哚菁绿血管造影(indocyanine green angiography,ICGA)可做出诊断,近几年对其治疗的主要手段有光动力疗法(photodynamic therapy,PDT)、玻璃体腔抗VEGF药物注射疗法、针对并发症的手术治疗及其联合治疗,本文将对息肉状脉络膜血管病变的诊疗展开综述,对其未来的研究方向进行展望.     

有关息肉状脉络膜血管病诊治的讨论

息肉状脉络膜血管病变(PCV)以视网膜下橘红色结节样病灶和异常分支状脉络膜血管网及其末梢的息肉状脉络膜血管扩张灶为特征,是亚洲人较常见的一种眼底疾病,由于PCV的临床表现与湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性(AMD)相似,临床上常将其诊断为湿性型AMD,但两者在吲哚青绿血管造影、病程预后及治疗上有较大的差异。进一步提高对PCV诊治的认识,将其从湿性型AMD中分离出来,无论对PCV还是湿性型AMD的治疗均具有重要的临床意义。(眼科,2007,16:373-375,377)     

Management of peripheral polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with intravitreal bevacizumab and indocyanine green angiography-guided laser photocoagulation

A 69-year-old lady presented with complaints of decreased vision in left eye since one month. Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) was 6/18 in that eye. Fundus examination revealed non-central geographic atrophy and soft drusens at macula in both eyes. Temporal periphery of left eye revealed subretinal exudates with altered sub-RPE hemorrhage mimicking peripheral exudative hemorrhagic chorioretinopathy (PEHCR). Fundus Fluorescein Angiogram showed window defects at macula and blocked fluorescence at temporal periphery in left eye. However, Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) revealed active peripheral choroidal polyps. The patient was successfully treated with intravitreal bevacizumab and ICGA-guided laser photocoagulation. 27 months after laser treatment, BCVA improved to 6/9. Rationale of consecutive anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment followed by more definitive laser photocoagulation is that anti-VEGF aids in resolution of subretinal fluid, thus making the polyp more amenable to focal laser photocoagulation which stabilizes the choroidal vasculature and prevents further leakage.     

Characteristics of fine vascular network pattern associated with recurrence of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Objective

To characterize an irregular capillary-like structure in the vascular network of eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and to determine whether its presence after photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be used to predict the clinical course of PCV.

Methods

We reviewed the clinical records of 29 eyes of 29 patients with PCV, who underwent PDT and confocal retinal angiographic examinations every 3 months. The images obtained before the PDT were compared with those after the PDT. The correlations between angiography findings and recurrences were evaluated.

Results

An area of fine, densely packed capillary-like vessels, named the fine vascular network, was identified within the polypoidal vascular network in 25 of 29 cases at the initial examination. The fine vascular network regressed in 23 cases (92%) after the first PDT. Thereafter, the fine vascular network remained or enlarged in 19 eyes, and 17 (84.5%) of these eyes had a recurrence of the polypoidal lesions or had exudative changes. In contrast, recurrences were found in only 2 of 10 (20%) eyes, whose fine network had regressed without a subsequent enlargement (P<0.001 compared with the former group).

Conclusions

A fine irregular vascular network is present in the majority of eyes with PCV before PDT. Its presence or expansion after PDT was significantly associated with a recurrence of PCV. Thus, we recommend that this network be monitored after treatment to determine whether a polypoidal vascular network will recur.     

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy examined with en face optical coherence tomography

BACKGROUND: To study the morphologic features of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with the use of en face optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 57 eyes of 57 patients with PCV. The macular region was examined with OCT en face planes scanned at different sequential depths, following which detailed scanning was performed of arbitrarily selected longitudinal planes. RESULTS: In 48 of the cases (84.2%), en face OCT allowed us to detect round protrusions of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) that corresponded to the polypoidal lesions seen on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA); the branching vascular networks seen on ICGA often induced slight elevation of the overlying RPE, which typically assumed a geographical shape. In 30 cases (52.6%), branching vascular networks were detected as elevations of the RPE. With en face OCT, serous pigment epithelial detachments, most of which were seen as round protrusions of the RPE, were often accompanied by adjacent smaller round protrusions of the RPE, consistent with polypoidal lesions. These protrusions of the RPE were often fused and typically appeared as a 'snowman'. Subsequent longitudinal examination revealed the polypoidal lesions to be sharp protrusions of the RPE with moderate inner reflectivity. Consistent with the location of the branching vascular network, a highly reflective line was seen often just beneath the slightly elevated reflective line of RPE. CONCLUSIONS: En face examination using OCT has an advantage in screening lesions of PCV and in examination of the detailed relationship of each component of these lesions.     

Macular hole after intravitreal ranibizumab injection for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

A 67‐year‐old man visited the clinic presenting with the complaint of decreased vision in his left eye. Visual acuity of the left eye was 6/6. On fundus examination, an orange polypoidal lesion and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) detachment were seen. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography were performed. There was hyperfluorescence of a clustered polyp‐like lesion. The patient was diagnosed with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and we recommended that he be seen again in three months. At this visit, visual acuity of the left eye had decreased to 6/9 and the RPE detachment was aggravated. Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab was performed. One month after the injection, visual acuity of his left eye was 6/96. A macular hole was seen in his left eye and vitrectomy of the left eye was performed. Optical coherence tomography was checked and it showed that the macular hole was closed. Two more intravitreal ranibizumab injections were done on the left eye. Visual acuity of his left eye subsequently improved to 6/18.8.     

One-year outcomes of intravitreal conbercept combined rescue therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in a Chinese population: a real-life clinical data

AIM: To evaluate the real-life clinical outcomes of intravitreal injection of conbercept combined rescue therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: This was an open label, single center, and interventional study. All enrolled patients were treated initially with three consecutive monthly intravitreal conbercept injections (0.5 mg). Additional conbercept injections were administered upon substantial polyp regression with improved visual acuity (VA). Eyes with partial or no polyp regression and poor VA were rescue treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) for subfoveal polyps or thermal laser photocoagulation for extrafoveal polyps. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT) and polyp regression were observed as primary outcomes. Side effects were also collected during the follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 56 eyes (56 patients) with PCV were included. BCVA increased significantly from the baseline of 43.52±24.21 letters to 55.88±21.94 letters (P<0.001) at 12mo, while CFT decreased significantly from 457.41±207.86 μm to 247.98±127.08 μm (P<0.001). All patients showed polyp regression. Twenty-three eyes achieved complete polyp regression after the three initial injections, which increased to 44 eyes at 12mo. Seventeen eyes underwent rescue therapy, among which 2 eyes treated with PDT and 15 eyes treated with laser photocoagulation. A mean of 4.30±1.43 injections were given per eye. No intraocular inflammation, retinal or vitreous hemorrhage, or systemic complication occurred. CONCLUSION: Conbercept is an effective and safe option for the treatment of PCV in Chinese population. The treatment regimen of three initial conbercept injections followed by additional injections or rescue therapies is efficacious for treating PCV.