Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Treatment: Photodynamic Therapy, Anti-VEGF Monotherapy or Combination. Review of Clinical Studies

Abstract

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a rare subtype of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), its specific features are abnormal branching vascular network with aneurysmal dilatations (polyps), it can be diagnosed in indocyanine green angiography. PCV differs from typical AMD by some ophthalmoscopic manifestations, multimodal imaging data as angiography, OCT with the ability to visualize the choroid, OCT-angiography and expression of VEGF. Despite the different response to antiangiogenic therapy, the presence of pathological neovascularization requires anti-VEGF treatment for both AMD types. In this review, we summarize the latest literature data on the treatment of polyphoidal choroidal vasculopathy: anti-VEGF monotherapy, photodynamic monotherapy, and their combinations. Special attention is paid to the results of multicenter randomized clinical trials with a large number of patients evaluating efficacy of Ranibizumab and Aflibercept (EVEREST 2 and PLANET). The short-term and long-term results of treatment are presented, taking into account the dosing regimens, the number of required injections and the requirement for a combination of anti-VEGF monotherapy with photodynamic therapy. The results of randomized clinical trial are providing high level evidence to guide clinical specialists in choosing the most appropriate therapy for PCV.

Keywords

• polypoid choroidal vasculopathy
• age-related macular degeneration
• ranibizumab
• aflibercept
• photodynamic therapy
• dosing regimens