Angiographic leakage of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy on indocyanine angiography.

Background: There is no detailed report about the angiographic leakage of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) lesions on indocyanine green (ICG) angiography. This study aimed to investigate the angiographic leakage of polypoidal lesions in PCV on ICG angiography.

Methods: One hundred and forty-four eyes of 137 patients diagnosed as PCV were prospectively observed. Fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and ICG angiography were performed. Leakage of polypoidal lesions and clinical features were recorded according to the angiograms.

Results: In all 144 eyes, 110 eyes showed angiographic leakage (leakage group) on ICG angiography and three subtypes of leakage group were noted, which were polypoidal dilations leakage (47 eyes, 42.7%), branching vascular networks leakage (14 eyes, 12.7%) and leakage of both (49 eyes, 44.5%). The other 34 eyes showed regression of polypoidal lesions (regression group). In leakage group, the rates of pigment epithelial detachment (PED), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) < 0.1 and old subretinal hemorrhages were 56.4% (62 eyes), 19.1% (21 eyes), and 4.6% (5 eyes) respectively, compared with 8.8% (3 eyes), 50% (17 eyes) and 38.2% (13 eyes) of regression group (P < 0.001). The history of regression group was significantly longer (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Angiographic leakage and regression can be observed in PCV lesions. Leakage of both polypoidal dilations and branching vascular networks is the most common subtype in leakage group. PCV in leakage group is more likely to be related to PED, better BCVA and shorter history, while PCV regression group tends to relevant to old subretinal hemorrhage, worse BCVA and longer history. This may reflect that the former is active or in the early course while the later is resting or in the late phase of PCV.