Greet Dijkman

Efficacy of photodynamic therapy in steroid-associated chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: a case–control study

To investigate whether patients who developed chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC) in association with corticosteroid treatment respond differently to photodynamic therapy (PDT) as compared to patients who have not used corticosteroids.

Photodynamic therapy in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with subretinal fluid outside the fovea

PurposeTo assess the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC), in whom subretinal fluid (SRF) was solely present outside the foveal area.MethodsIn this retrospective study, 16 eyes of 15 cCSC patients who received half-dose PDT because of notable subjective visual complaints due to the presence of extrafoveal SRF, were included. An ophthalmic examination was performed before treatment, including Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study best-corrected visual acuity measurement, applanation tonometry, slit-lamp examination, and indirect ophthalmoscopy, followed by multimodal imaging, including fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), enhanced-depth imaging OCT of the choroid, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography.ResultsIn 7 treated patients (47%), PDT led to a decrease in visual complaints at the first evaluation visit. At this visit, extrafoveal SRF on OCT had resolved in 14 eyes (88%), whereas a complete resolution of extrafoveal SRF had occurred in all eyes at final follow-up visit. At baseline, posterior cystoid retinal degeneration was also present in 5 eyes (31%) and this remained present at all evaluation visits in these patients. Choroidal thickness decreased statistically significantly in the treated eyes, both foveally and at the location of the maximum height of extrafoveal SRF. No complications of PDT were observed.ConclusionsHalf-dose PDT treatment of cCSC patients with visual complaints due to extrafoveal SRF accumulation is a safe procedure leading to complete SRF resolution, a decrease in choroidal thickness, and a reduction in visual symptoms.

Correlation between redefined optical coherence tomography parameters and best-corrected visual acuity in non-resolving central serous chorioretinopathy treated with half-dose photodynamic therapy

Purpose To assess parameters on optical coherence tomography (OCT), and their correlation with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with non-resolving central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods For 25 non-resolving CSC patients treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT), the thickness of retinal layers was assessed on the foveal spectral-domain (SD) OCT scan. Evaluated OCT parameters included the central retinal thickness (CRT), defined as the internal limiting membrane (ILM) to ellipsoid zone (EZ) distance, and the second band thickness (SBT), defined as the EZ to hyperreflective subretinal accumulation distance. Integrity of the external limiting membrane (ELM) and the EZ bands was also determined. These parameters, along with BCVA and CRT measured automatically by SD-OCT device software were obtained before PDT, after PDT, and at final visit. After Bonferroni correction, a p-value <0.007 was considered statistically significant. Results Twenty-five patients could be included at last visit before PDT and first visit after PDT. At final visit, 24 patients could be included, since 1 patients was lost to follow-up. Mean CRT was 112 μm at last visit before PDT, 118 μm at first visit after PDT (p = 0.030), and 127 μm at final visit (p<0.001compared to baseline). Mean SBT was 74 μm, 26 μm (p<0.001 compared to baseline), and 21 μm (p<0.001 compared to baseline), respectively. Mean BCVA in Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters was 79 at baseline, 85 at first visit after PDT (p = 0.005 compared to baseline), and 87 at final visit (p = 0.001 compared to baseline). BCVA had an estimated correlation of β = 0.103 (p = 0.114) with CRT, β = -0.051 (p = 0.014) with SBT, β = 0.615 (p = 0.600) with the integrity of the ELM, and β = 4.917 with the integrity of the EZ (p = 0.001). Conclusions In non-resolving CSC patients treated with half-dose PDT, the CRT increased at final visit in comparison to the last visit before PDT. The continuity of the EZ on SD-OCT was positively correlated with BCVA. We propose that the distance between ILM and EZ should be used as a reliable CRT measurement in non-resolving CSC patients treated with half-dose PDT.

Cushing’s Syndrome and Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis Hyperactivity in Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Objective Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), a specific form of macular degeneration, has been reported as presenting manifestation of Cushing’s syndrome. Furthermore, CSC has been associated with both exogenous hypercortisolism and endogenous Cushing’s syndrome. It is important to know whether CSC patients should be screened for Cushing’s syndrome. Although hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity in CSC has been suggested, no detailed evaluation of the HPA axis has been performed in a large cohort of CSC patients. This study aimed to investigate whether Cushing’s syndrome prevalence is increased among chronic CSC (cCSC) patients and whether detailed endocrinological phenotyping indicates hyperactivity of the HPA axis. Design Cross-sectional study. Patients 86 cCSC patients and 24 controls. Measurements Prevalence of Cushing’s syndrome, HPA axis activity. Results None of the cCSC patients met the clinical or biochemical criteria of Cushing’s syndrome. However, compared to controls, HPA axis activity was increased in cCSC patients, reflected by higher 24 h urinary free cortisol, and accompanying higher waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure, whereas circadian cortisol rhythm and feedback were not different. Chronic CSC patients did not report more stress or stress-related problems on questionnaires. Conclusion No case of Cushing’s syndrome was revealed in a large cohort of cCSC patients. Therefore, we advise against screening for Cushing’s syndrome in CSC patients, unless additional clinical features are present. However, our results indicate that cCSC is associated with hyperactivity of the HPA axis, albeit not accompanied with perception of more psychosocial stress.

SHORT-TERM FINDINGS ON OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY AND MICROPERIMETRY IN CHRONIC CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY PATIENTS TREATED WITH HALF-DOSE PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Purpose: To assess the short-term outcome of and possible temporary vision loss after half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC). Methods: In this prospective study, 14 eyes of 13 cCSC patients who underwent half-dose PDT were included. Patients received spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and microperimetry before PDT on the day of treatment and 1 week after treatment. Results: Five patients (38%) reported worsening of visual complaints in the week after half-dose PDT. No significant changes in both central foveal thickness, height of subretinal fluid, and choroidal thickness on optical coherence tomography imaging and retinal sensitivity on microperimetry were observed, neither in the patients who did not experience worsening of visual symptoms, nor in those who did. Conclusion: Worsening of visual complaints can occur in a noteworthy number of cCSC patients in the first week after half-dose verteporfin PDT. Despite the fact that no significant short-term changes on both optical coherence tomography and microperimetry have been detected in this study, the assessment could be of importance for the long-term outcome of treatment and needs further investigation.

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration without drusen in the fellow eye: clinical spectrum and therapeutic outcome

Purpose To investigate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcome of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in 1 eye, without drusen in the fellow eye. Patients and methods Medical records of 381 patients were analyzed to identify the cases. The main outcomes included Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and change in central retinal thickness (CRT). These parameters were reviewed at baseline, first follow-up visit, and after 6, 12, and 24 months. Results Out of 381 patients, 29 cases (8%) were included (of whom 3 had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy [PCV]) who were treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy which was supplemented by photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the PCV patients. Overall, no statistically significant change in mean BCVA was observed during follow-up. BCVA improved or remained stable (defined as a gain in BCVA, a stable BCVA, or a loss of <5 ETDRS letters) in 22 patients (76%), and 7 patients (23%) had lost ≥5 ETDRS letters at final follow-up. A gain of ≥15 ETDRS letters at final follow-up was seen in 5 patients (17%). Mean CRT had decreased significantly with 99 µm (P<0.001) at 24 months after the initial visit. Conclusion There is a clinical spectrum of nAMD that is not associated with drusen in the fellow eye. Patients with nAMD without drusen in the fellow eye respond to anti-VEGF treatment and, in cases of PCV, to supplemental PDT. The pathophysiology of this spectrum of nAMD may be different from drusen-associated age-related macular degeneration.