Triple therapy for choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration: verteporfin PDT, bevacizumab, and dexamethasone.

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of triple therapy with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT), dexamethasone, and bevacizumab in choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series included 104 patients. Verteporfin PDT was administered with a reduced light dose (42 J/cm, accomplished by light delivery time of 70 seconds). Approximately 16 hours after PDT, dexamethasone (800 microg) and bevacizumab (1.5 mg) were injected intravitreally. Patients attended follow-up visits every 6 weeks, undergoing visual acuity and intraocular pressure measurement, slit-lamp and ophthalmoscopic examination, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Fluorescein angiography was performed every 3 months or earlier if OCT showed significant edema. All 104 patients received one triple therapy cycle (5 patients received a second triple treatment due to remaining CNV activity). The triple therapy was complemented in 18 patients (17.3%) by an additional intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. The mean follow-up period was 40 weeks (range, 22-60 weeks). Mean increase in visual acuity was 1.8 lines (P < 0.01). Mean decrease in retinal thickness was 182 microm (P < 0.01). No serious adverse events have been observed. In most patients with CNV due to AMD, triple therapy results in significant and sustained visual acuity improvement after only one cycle of treatment. In addition, the therapy offers a good safety profile, potentially lower cost compared with therapies that must be administered more frequently, and convenience for patients.