PLoS ONE (Jan 2017)

Comparison between 1-year outcomes of aflibercept with and without photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: Retrospective observation study.

  • Kei Takayama,
  • Hiroki Kaneko,
  • Keiko Kataoka,
  • Kyoko Hattori,
  • Eimei Ra,
  • Taichi Tsunekawa,
  • Hiroshi Fukukita,
  • Fuminori Haga,
  • Yasuki Ito,
  • Hiroko Terasaki

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176100
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 5
p. e0176100

Abstract

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Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is characterized by polyp-like choroidal neovascularization and a branching vascular network. Intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) or photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used for treatment. We retrospectively compared the 1-year outcomes of IAI monotherapy and its combination with initial PDT for PCV. Twelve eyes with naïve PCV received three IAIs and a single PDT after the first IAI and as needed injection (combination group); 11 eyes with naïve PCV received three IAIs and as needed injections (IAI group). Significant improvements in visual acuity after 2 months and in CRT after 1 month were maintained at 12 months in both groups (both P < 0.05); groups did not differ significantly at any time point. CCT significantly reduced after 3 and 12 months in the combination group (both P < 0.05) but not in the IAI group. A mean of 3.7 ± 0.9 and 5.6 ± 2.0 injections was administered to the combination and IAI groups, respectively (P = 0.013). Within a 1-year period, combination therapy was found to yield similar visual acuity and retinal structure improvements and maintenance as IAI monotherapy while requiring fewer IAIs.