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Macular atrophy after combined intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP)

Sutter FK, Kurz-Levin MM, Fleischhauer J, Bösch MM, Barthelmes D, Helbig H

Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde, 2006

8 participants

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) is a variant of exudative AMD that appears to respond poorly to standard PDT. This pilot study explores the potential efficacy and safety of combined intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective interventional case series 10 eyes of 8 patients with RAP were treated with combined IVTA/PDT.

RESULTS: After 3 months there was no evidence of significant exudative activity in 7/10 eyes treated with IVTA/PDT, three eyes required re-treatment. After 6 months 4/10 eyes were "dry" on fluorescein angiography, visual acuity was stable (loss of less than 3 Snellen lines) or had improved in 5/10 eyes. 5/10 eyes had lost 3 or more lines, due to central macular atrophy in 4/5 eyes and secondary to a progressive exudative lesion in 1/5 eyes.

CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal steroids combined with PDT appear to be a step ahead in the treatment of RAP. Our results, however, raise the question whether combined treatment may create more atrophy leading to vision loss in some cases.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 8 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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