Comparison between 1-year outcomes of aflibercept with and without photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: Retrospective observation study

<div><p>Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is characterized by polyp-like choroidal neovascularization and a branching vascular network. Intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) or photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used for treatment. We retrospectively compared the 1-year outcomes of IAI monotherapy and its combination with initial PDT for PCV. Twelve eyes with naïve PCV received three IAIs and a single PDT after the first IAI and as needed injection (combination group); 11 eyes with naïve PCV received three IAIs and as needed injections (IAI group). Significant improvements in visual acuity after 2 months and in CRT after 1 month were maintained at 12 months in both groups (both <i>P</i> < 0.05); groups did not differ significantly at any time point. CCT significantly reduced after 3 and 12 months in the combination group (both <i>P</i> < 0.05) but not in the IAI group. A mean of 3.7 ± 0.9 and 5.6 ± 2.0 injections was administered to the combination and IAI groups, respectively (<i>P</i> = 0.013). Within a 1-year period, combination therapy was found to yield similar visual acuity and retinal structure improvements and maintenance as IAI monotherapy while requiring fewer IAIs.</p></div

Numbers of intravitreal aflibercept injections (IAI) administered to the two study groups.

<p><b>(A)</b> Significantly fewer IAIs were administered to the combination group than to the IAI group. <b>(B)</b> The groups had no significant difference in terms of the percentage of cases over 12 months. * <i>P</i> < 0.05 by Mann–Whitney <i>U</i> test.</p

Changes in best-corrected visual acuity at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in the two study groups.

<p>Visual acuity improvements were maintained at 12 months in both groups, and no significant inter-group differences were observed at any time point.</p

Central retinal thickness (CRT) and central choroidal thickness (CCT) outcomes in the two study groups.

<p><b>(A)</b> Reductions in CRT were maintained at 12 months after both treatments, and no significant differences were observed between the groups at any time point during the 12-month study period. <b>(B)</b> A significant reduction in CCT from baseline to 3 and 12 months was observed in the combination group. No significant differences were observed between the two groups at any time point. * <i>P</i> < 0.05, ** <i>P</i> < 0.01 by Repeated measures ANOVA.</p

Outcomes of central retinal thickness and central choroidal thickness.

<p>Outcomes of central retinal thickness and central choroidal thickness.</p

Patient characteristics.

<p>Patient characteristics.</p

Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) outcomes in the two study groups.

<p>Improvements in BCVA were maintained at 12 months in both groups, and no significant differences were observed between the groups at any time point. * <i>P</i> < 0.05 by Repeated measures ANOVA.</p

Outcome of visual acuity.

<p>Outcome of visual acuity.</p