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PDT as promising therapy for VPRTs
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PDT as promising therapy for VPRTs Blasi MA, Scupola A, Tiberti AC, et al. Photodynamic therapy for vasoproliferative retinal tumors. Retina 2006;26(4):404-9. The use of verteporfin in photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been helpful in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration, myopic degeneration, and histoplasmosis. Vasoproliferative retinal tumors (VPRTs) represent highly vascularized masses of the neurosensory retina. Although the clinical features of these tumors vary, they often are associated with ocular morbidity that results from progressive exudation involving the macula. Cur-
Medical Abstracts rently, the visual prognosis for these patients is guarded because of the limited therapeutic outcomes from the available treatments, including laser photocoagulation. In a modest 3-patient study, the authors evaluated the effectiveness of PDT in the treatment of VPRTs. Three patients, all presenting with VPRTs, had decreased visual acuity owing to macular exudative cystoid changes with accompanying intraretinal blood as well as intraretinal and subretinal exudation. The VPRTs in all 3 cases were treated with a single session of verteporfin and PDT. Follow-up examinations included evaluations at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after treatment. Visual acuity was measured utilizing the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy acuity chart (ETDRS). At the conclusion of
the study period, the mean visual acuity improvement was 4.7 ETDRS letters. In addition, all 3 treated tumors had a marked reduction in height at 6 months with an accompanying resolution of leakage and hemorrhage. Although the authors recognize the limitations of the modest patient enrollment, the results appear promising. The complexity of treating more peripheral lesions may limit the application of this procedure. Additional controlled study evidence is needed to confirm the true efficacy of the procedure. What is evident, however, is that the applications of PDT continue to enhance patient care. Barry J. Frauens, O.D. doi:10.1016/j.optm.2006.06.011
PDT as promising therapy for VPRTs Blasi MA, Scupola A, Tiberti AC, et al. Photodynamic therapy for vasoproliferative retinal tumors. Retina 2006;26(4):404-9. The use of verteporfin in photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been helpful in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration, myopic degeneration, and histoplasmosis. Vasoproliferative retinal tumors (VPRTs) represent highly vascularized masses of the neurosensory retina. Although the clinical features of these tumors vary, they often are associated with ocular morbidity that results from progressive exudation involving the macula. Cur-
Medical Abstracts rently, the visual prognosis for these patients is guarded because of the limited therapeutic outcomes from the available treatments, including laser photocoagulation. In a modest 3-patient study, the authors evaluated the effectiveness of PDT in the treatment of VPRTs. Three patients, all presenting with VPRTs, had decreased visual acuity owing to macular exudative cystoid changes with accompanying intraretinal blood as well as intraretinal and subretinal exudation. The VPRTs in all 3 cases were treated with a single session of verteporfin and PDT. Follow-up examinations included evaluations at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after treatment. Visual acuity was measured utilizing the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy acuity chart (ETDRS). At the conclusion of
the study period, the mean visual acuity improvement was 4.7 ETDRS letters. In addition, all 3 treated tumors had a marked reduction in height at 6 months with an accompanying resolution of leakage and hemorrhage. Although the authors recognize the limitations of the modest patient enrollment, the results appear promising. The complexity of treating more peripheral lesions may limit the application of this procedure. Additional controlled study evidence is needed to confirm the true efficacy of the procedure. What is evident, however, is that the applications of PDT continue to enhance patient care. Barry J. Frauens, O.D. doi:10.1016/j.optm.2006.06.011