Comparison of the effects of photodynamic therapy, intravitreal ranibizumab and combination for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy under 1 + PRN regimen

Abstract

Abstract Background The optimal treatment for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is still under debate. Little knowledge is known about the treatment effect of “1+pro re nata(PRN)” treatment regimen for PCV. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of photodynamic therapy (PDT), intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IVR) and combination therapy under the “1 + PRN” treatment regimen for PCV. Methods Fifty-seven eyes of 57 patients completed the 12 months’ follow-up in this prospective study. The patients in the PDT arm(n = 23), ranibizumab arm(n = 18), or combination arm(n = 16) underwent a session of PDT, IVR or combination of both at baseline followed by additional IVR as needed. Mean change of logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity (VA), central foveal thickness (CFT) and the regression rate of polyps were evaluated. Cost-benefit analysis was also performed. Results At Month 12, the mean logMAR VA improved from 0.90 ± 0.52 to 0.75 ± 0.57 in the PDT group (P 0.05). PDT treatment (60.87%) was superior to the IVR therapy (22.22%) in achieving complete regression of polyps (P < 0.05). Cost-benefit analysis showed that IVR treatment cost the least money for improving per 0.1logMAR units and the combination therapy demanded the least money for reducing per 100 μm of CFT. Conclusions PDT, IVR and the combination therapy have similar efficacy in the VA improvement as well as the reduction of CFT under the “1 + PRN” treatment regimen. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials NCT03459144. Registered retrospectively on March 2, 2018.

Keywords

• Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy
• Photodynamic therapy
• Ranibizumab
• Combination therapy
• Cost-benefit