Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of transpupillary thermal therapy (TTT) for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) accompanied with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods Fifty-one eyes of 47 patients whose illness had been diagnosed as AMD by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were treated with diode 810 laser. There are 42 eyes of 39 patients had occult CNV and 9 eyes of 8 patients had classic CNV, and the average visual acuity in their fist diagnosis was 0.12. According to the focus size, the diameters of beam spot varied from 0.8, 1.2, 2.0, and 3.0 mm; and the power was 120, 160, 260 and 360mW correspondingly, with the duration of 60 seconds. The follow-up examination was performed once a month after the treatment, and repetitious treatment would be taken once to thrice if necessary. The follow-up period was 3~33 months with the mean of 10 months. Visual acuity, haemorrhage in ocular fundus, absorption of exudation, and the closure of CNV were examined in the follow-up examination. Results No immediate decrement of visual acuity or any other discomforts were found in all of the treated eyes soon after the treatment. The average visual acuity of 51 eyes was 0.16 in the last diagnosis, which remained no change in 68.62%; increased in 23.53% and decreased in 7.84% compared with that in the first diagnosis. The results of FFA and ICCG demonstrated that at the 3rd months after the treatment, the closure rate was 42.86% in occult CNV and 22.22% in classic CNV; and at the 6th month, the closure rate was 73.81% in occult CNV and 66.67% in classic CNV. The results of ophthalmoscopy showed that at the 3rd month after the treatment, partial or complete absorption of hemorrhage and/or exudates with various thickness of organized scarring tissue was found in 42 eyes with occult CNV; decrement of hemorrhage and exudates was observed in 7 out of 9 eyes with classic CNV; and new hemorrhage occurred in 1 eye. At the 6th month, in 27 eyes with occult CNV, new hemorrhage occurred in 3 including 2 eyes with occult CNV, new hemorrhage occurred in 3 including 2 eyes with faster absorption and remaining unchanged for 12 months; in 5 eyes with classic C NV, new hemorrhage occurred in 2, which was absorbed after treated again and remained stable in the 16-month followed-up. In 19 eyes with occult CNV which had been followed up for more than 6 months, hemorrhage disappeared in 5 and new hemorrhage occurred in 5. In the followed-up over 6 months, new hemorrhage occurred in 8 eyes with the recurrent rate of 15.6%. Conclusion TTT is effective for AMD with either classic or occult CNV. In the long-term followed-up, CNV recurs in 15.6% of the treated eyes which may be improved after the further treatment. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：280-284)
Interleukin-18 is an inactive precursor which lacks a signal peptide, it has a role in regulating retinal pathological angiogenesis. It also inhibits experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) via interferon-γand thrombospondin-1. Currently little is known about its mechanisms of inhibition for CNV, may be speculated to be due to effects of anti-angiogenesis, down-regulates vascular permeability and lower vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels via directly acting on the vascular endothelial cell and epithelial cells. Exogenous administration of mature recombinant interleukin-18 has no adverse effect on retinal pigment epithelial cell viability. In addition, the anti-VEGF role of interleukin-18 is tested to be safe and effective for humans. Interleukin-18 alone or in combination with anti-VEGF shows to be a good prospect for improving the prognosis of experimental CNV. However, more large clinical studies are required to confirm the exact efficacy of interleukin-18 for CNV.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical results and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) through 4 years after single and multi-treatments of patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) caused by age-related macular degeneration(AMD). MethodsClinical data of 73 AMD cases (95 eyes) diagnosed through fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optic coherence tomography (OCT), treated with PDT were reviewed and analyzed in this hospital from June 2000 to June 2004. The changes of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus pictures, FFA, ICGA and OCT were compared before and after PDT. Follow-up time varied from 3 months to 4 years (mean, 2 years). ResultsThe mean age of 73 patients was 67.8 years old. The BCVA was from CF/10 cm to 1.0. At the final follow up, the BCVA was improved (increase≥2 lines) in 39 eyes (41.1%), stabilized (±1 line) in 51 eyes (53.7 %) and decreased 2 lines in 5 eyes (5.3%). Fundus hemorrhage and exudation reduced after PDT. FFA and ICGA showed CNV complete closure in 58 eyes (61.05%), partial closure in 6 eyes (6.32%), CNV incomplete closure in 22 eyes (23.16% ) and recurrence in 9 eyes (9.47%). After once PDT of 12 eyes with early-stage AMD, the BCVA improved (from 0.6 to 1.5), CNV completely closed, and the OCT showed disappearance of macular edema and neursensory retinal deta chment. No CN V recurred in our four years follow-up observation and the BCVA of the patients remained stable. The mean number of PDT treatment was 1.8 per eye in 95 cases. No serious local or systemic complications were encountered. ConclusionsSingle or multiple sessions of PDT can acheive long-term safety and efficacy. For early-stage AMD patients with minimally classic CNV, PDT can completely make CNV closed and reduce the risk of visual loss.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：275-279)
Objective To evaluate short-term effects of a single photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment with visudyne (CIBA Vision Corp.) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-ralated macular degeneration (AMD). Methods Thirty cases (35 eyes) diagnosed as AMD patients with classic CNV were treated with PDT. The data of visual acuity testing, fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optic coherence tomography （OCT) were used to evaluate the effects of a single treatment of PDT before and 1 week, 1 ,3 month after treatment. Results The visual acuity of 34 eyes were stable or improved in 3 months follow-up；and the visual acuity of 1 eye was decreased. Decrease or dispearance of fluorescein leakage from CNV was noted in 19 eyes. No serious complication occurred. Conclusion Single treatment of PDT for CNV in AMD can achieve short-term decrease or cessation of fluorescein leakage from CNV without loss of visual acuity. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 171-174)
ObjectiveTo assess changes of blood flow density of idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (ICNV) treated with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF).MethodsRetrospective case analysis. Sixteen eyes of 16 patients with ICNV diagnosed with FFA and OCT were included in this study. Among them, 12 were female and 4 were male. The mean age was 33.94±9.83 years. The mean course of diseases was 5.13±4.44 weeks. The BCVA, indirect ophthalmoscope, OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA) were performed at the first diagnosis in all patients. The BCVA was converted to logMAR. The macular fovea retinal thickness (CMT) was measured by OCT, and the selected area of CNV (CSA) and flow area of CNV (CFA) were measured by OCTA. The mean logMAR BCVA, CMT, CSA and CFA were 0.336±0.163, 268.500±57.927 μm, 0.651±0.521 mm2, 0.327±0.278 mm2 , respectively. All patients were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR, 10 mg/ml, 0.05 ml). Follow-up results including the BCVA, fundus color photography, OCT and OCTA were obtained 1 month after treatment. To compare the changes of BCVA, CMT, CSA, CFA of ICNV treated with anti-VEGF. Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between logMAR BCVA and CMT, CSA and CFA before and after the treatment.ResultsOne month after treatment, the average logMAR BCVA, CMT, CSA and CFA were 0.176±0.111, 232.500±18.910 μm, 0.420±0.439 mm2, 0.215±0.274 mm2. The mean logMAR BCVA (t=5.471, P＜0.001), CMT (t=2.527, P=0.023), CSA (t=4.039, P=0.001), CFA (t=4.214, P=0.001) significantly decreased at 1 month after injection compared to baseline, and the difference had statistical significance. The results of correlation analysis showed that the post-logMAR BCVA was moderately positively correlated with pre-CSA and post-CSA (r=0.553, 0.560; P=0.026, 0.024), and strongly correlated with pre-CFA and post-CFA (r=0.669, 0.606; P=0.005, 0.013), but not correlated with pre-CMT and post-CMT (r=0.553, 0.560; P=0.026, 0.024).ConclusionThe blood flow density of ICNV measured by OCTA were significantly decreased in the treatment of anti-VEGF drugs.
Up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is demonstrated to be a key role in formation process of intraocular neovascularization. Anti-VEGF treatment is the breakthrough of intraocular neovascular diseases therapy. Intrav itreal injection of antineovascularization drug looks to be an effective method on ocular neovascular diseases which with the advantages of good biocompatibility, low prices and longer intravitreal half-time etc. However, at present, it lack of multi-center study; the long-term efficacy and the systematic safety needs the further clinical verification. Various types of CNV showed the different therapeutic reactions to either PDT or Anti-VEGF agent, the treatment methods for exudative AMD include laser, PDT, and drug like Triamcinolone Acetonide，several anti-VEGF preparations. Therefore, understanding the pathogenesis of neovascular AMD and choosing a reasonable therapeutic methods are necessary. We should try to explore a safe, effective, economic, new approach. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2008，24：157-159）
Objective To observe the inhibitory effects of construction of complement factor (CFB)small interference RNA (siRNA) on choroidal neovascularization（CNV）induced by photocoagulation in rats.Methods We constructed an expression vector of CFBsiRNA by cutting CFBsiRNA and plasmid pRNATU61/Neo. Experimental CNV was induced by photocoagulation in 42 Brown Norway rats. After the model was set up, the rats were randomly divided into tail intravenous injection, vitreous injection, subretinal injection, and control group; each group except the control one had a corresponding blank plasmid control group. CFBsiRNA was injected 1, 3, and 5 days respectively after photocoagulation in the injection groups; the dosage was 50, 20, and 10 mu;g in tail intravenous injection, vitreous injection, and subretinal injection group respectively, while no injection was give to the control group after photocoagulation. Before and 14 days after photocoagulation, fundus fluorescein angiograoph (FFA) was performed and CNV development was judged by the leakage; the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and factor Ⅷ were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The leakage of fluorescein was obvious lower in tail intravenous injection group than that in the control group (chi;2=15.1620,Plt;0.05). The expression of VEGF and factor VIII in tail intravenous injection group at different time points after photocoagulation didnprime;tdiffer much (F=20.35,18.33; Pgt;0.05); while was apparently lower than that in the other groups at different time points (F=77.96,55.68; Plt;0.05).All of the groups, except tail intravenous injection group, had higher expression of VEGF and factor VIII 14 days after photocoagulation compared with that 7 days after photocoagulation (F=60.89, 61.12; Plt;0.05).Conclusions Constructed CFBsiRNA can inhibite CNV by downregulating the expression of VEGF and factor Ⅷ.
Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of photodynamic therapy（PDT）on choroidal neovascularization（CNV）with or without cystoid macular edema（CME）in patients with wet agerelated macular degeneration（AMD）. Methods The clinical data of 54 patients (54 eyes) with wet AMD who had undergone the standard PDT，including 16 patients（21 eyes）with CME and 28 patients（33 eyes）without CME were retrospectively analyzed. The visual acuity and BFT of patients were examined by early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) and optical coherence tomography（OCT）before and per three months after PDT. The follow up was 3-18 months with the mean of 8.3 months.Results At the last time of follow up, in CME group，ETDRS letter score was（29.429plusmn;17.907）and the BFT was （316.429plusmn;77.161）mu;m，compared with that before the treatment, the difference were statistically significant (t=-0.389，2.246；P＝0.701，0.019). In nonCME group, ETDRS letter score was (48.121plusmn;17.911) and the BFT was (244.667plusmn;37.619) mu;m, compared with that before the treatment, the difference were statistically significant (t=-3.424，6.880；P＝0.002，0.000). There were statistical significance for the change of ETDRS letter score and BFT between the two groups (t=-2.194，2.212；P＝0.033，0.031）). Conclusions Therapeutic effect of PDT on CNV with CME was better than without CME in patients with wet AMD.