Single-session combined photodynamic therapy with verteporfin and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: a pilot study at 12-month follow-up.

Background: To report the anatomic and functional outcomes of a single-session combined photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (PDT) and intravitreal (IVT) anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CCSCR).

Methods: Retrospective interventional comparative case series of eyes with symptomatic CCSCR (duration ≥ 4 months) and macular neurosensory retinal detachment (MNSRD). The study group, eight eyes (six patients), received a single session of combined full-fluence PDT and IVT anti-VEGF [bevacizumab (2.5 mg), four eyes; pegaptanib sodium [0.3 mg], four eyes). A matched control group, ten eyes (seven patients), treated with full-fluence PDT alone, was included. All patients had 12 months of follow-up.

Results: The mean CCSCR duration was 12.5 ± 14.2 months (range: 4-47 months) in the study group. In the control group, the mean CCSCR duration was 15.3 ± 7.5 months (range: 4-24 months). In the study group, the mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved from 0.6 (20/80) to 0.2 (20/30) (P = 0.011). Central macular thickness (CMT) measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) decreased from 288.4 μ (range: 165-375 μ) at baseline to a CMT of 163.1 μ (range: 120-200 μ) (P = 0.005) at 12 months. In the control group, the mean logMAR BCVA improved from 0.7 (20/100) to 0.6 (20/80) (P = 0.43). CMT decreased from 332.9 μ (range: 171-495 μ) at baseline to a CMT of 213.1 μ (range: 133-307 μ) (P = 0.002) at 12 months. At 12 months, MNSRD resolved completely in eight eyes (100%) and in seven eyes (70%), in the study group and the control group respectively. In the control group, four eyes (40%) required more than one PDT session (mean: 2.6 sessions; range: 2-4) due to persistent MNSRD. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy changes but no leakage were seen by fluorescein angiography in all eight eyes (100%) in the study group, and in three out of ten eyes (30%) in the control group. No systemic adverse events were observed.

Conclusions: Combined PDT and IVT anti-VEGF therapy seems to aid in the resolution of MNSRD in patients with CCSCR. Combination therapy was associated with a rapid reduction in MNSRD and improvement in BCVA with no recurrences at 12 months. However, combination therapy with full-fluence PDT has the potential to accelerate RPE atrophy, and this needs further study.