PubMed ID: 14977766
Author(s): Rechtman E, Danis RP, Pratt LM, Harris A. Intravitreal triamcinolone with photodynamic therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation in age related macular degeneration. Br J Ophthalmol. 2004 Mar;88(3):344-7. PMID 14977766
Journal: The British Journal Of Ophthalmology, Volume 88, Issue 3, Mar 2004
AIMS To report the effects of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (iTAAC) injections as an adjunctive treatment to photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for new subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) in age related macular degeneration (AMD).
METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of all AMD patients who had iTAAC within 6 weeks of their first PDT and had a follow up of one year or longer. The proportion of eyes after one year follow up that lost or gained >or=15 and >or=30 ETDRS letters, baseline and one year lesion greatest linear dimension (GLD), number of PDTs, and side effects were assessed.
RESULTS Fourteen patients were evaluated. Eleven received one initial combined treatment and three received an additional combined treatment after 6 months. Median follow up was 18 months (range 12 to 25 months). Overall, 7% gained >or=30 letters, 50% maintained stable vision, 14% lost 15-29 letters, and 29% lost >or=30 letters. Overall, mean GLD increased from 2580 (SD 1088) microm to 3946 (SD 1503) micro m (p = 0.01). The mean number of PDTs during the first year was 2.57. Side effects were mild intraocular pressure elevation in 28.5% and cataract progression in 50% of phakic eyes.
CONCLUSIONS iTAAC with PDT in AMD was found to be relatively safe and had reasonable results for lesions with some classic component.