Tércio Guia

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome

PURPOSE To assess the role of photodynamic therapy using verteporfin in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. DESIGN Interventional case report. METHODS A 9-year-old patient with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization received a single photodynamic therapy with verteporfin session (one eye) and was prospectively followed with fluorescein angiography. RESULTS A complete regression of the lesion was achieved within 1 week after treatment. Visual acuity improved from 20/800 to 20/320 by 6 months of follow-up. Fluorescein angiography disclosed unexpected retinal pigment epithelium alteration within the treatment area. CONCLUSION Although regression of the choroidal neovascularization occurred, unpredicted findings involving normal retina in the vicinity of the lesion suggest that further studies are required to assess the clinical value of this treatment for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome.

Agreement between optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein angiography in post-cataract surgery cystoid macular edema

PURPOSE: To evaluate the agreement between optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) regarding the detection of cystoid macular edema (CME) following cataract surgery. METHODS: Retrospective comparative observational series of 25 eyes with suspected CME. Patients with low visual acuity and alterations in fundus biomicroscopy after cataract surgery underwent OCT scanning followed by FFA on the same visit. The diagnosis of CME was established considering fluorescein leakage on FFA and retinal thickness and/or cystoid spaces and/or subretinal fluid on OCT. RESULTS: Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients were enrolled. Twenty-two eyes had similar results on both OCT and FFA, of which 15 eyes had CME and 7 eyes had no CME. Two eyes had CME detected only by FFA and one eye only by OCT. The agreement between the two examinations was good (Kappa = 0.7331; p=0.0001) with no tendency to have neither more positive nor negative findings (p=1.0). CONCLUSION: According to these preliminary data, OCT seems to be as effective as FFA to detect CME with a good agreement between the two techniques.

Avaliação da tomografia de coerência óptica em pacientes portadores de degeneração macular relacionada à idade tratada com terapia fotodinâmica com verteporfina

PURPOSE: To identify the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in patients with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT). STUDY DESIGN: Open, non-randomized, interventional case series. METHODS: ARMD patients were submitted to a complete ophthalmological examination, fluorescein angiography, and OCT at baseline (V0), 3, 6, 9 and 12 months (V3, V6, V9 and V12, respectively). PDT was carried out according to the TAP study. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using the logMAR ETDRS chart. The following foveal measurements were performed: foveal intraretinal thickness (FIRT), foveal choriocapillaris - RPE complex thickness (FCC-RPET) and total foveal thickness (TFT). The extrafoveal thicknesses measured were: extrafoveal intraretinal thickness (EFIRT), extrafoveal choriocapillaris - RPE complex thickness (EFCC-RPET) and total extrafoveal thickness (TEFT). Statistical analysis was performed using the block variance analysis test. RESULTS: Twenty-three eyes of 23 patients were enrolled. This study identified nine OCT patterns: 1) thickening of the foveal intraretinal layers; 2) thickening of the extrafoveal intraretinal layers; 3) thickening of the foveal choriocapillaris - RPE complex; 4) thickening of the extrafoveal choriocapillaris - RPE complex; 5) intraretinal fluid; 6) subretinal fluid; 7) subretinal pigment epithelium (RPE) fluid; 8) vitreo-retinal adhesion; 9) foveal depression. At baseline, FIRT and TFT were 398.5 µ and 639.2 µ, respectively. At V12 they were 173.7 µ e 423.9 µ, respectively, and this change was statistical significant (p=0.008 e p=0.003, respectively). The variation of the other foveal and extrafoveal measurements were not statistically significant. Foveal depression was present at baseline in 36.4% of the eyes, whereas at V12 it was present in 78.3%. Subretinal fluid was present in 36.4% of eyes at V0 and in 8.7% at V12. VA at baseline was 0.93 and it V12 was 1.04 (p=0,127). CONCLUSIONS: Visual acuity was stable throughout the study. Foveal depression was reestablished in 78.3% at V12. FIRT and TFT decreased at a statistical significant level, from V0 to V12.

Vasculopatia polipoidal idiopática da coróide

Objetivo: Descrever os achados da tomografia de coerencia optica, angiofluoresceinografia e indocianinografia na vasculopatia polipoidal idiopatica da coroide. Metodos: Realizou-se analise criteriosa dos exames complementares de angiofluoresceinografia e indocianinografia, comumente utilizados para o diagnostico, assim como da tomografia de coerencia optica, em quatro olhos de uma serie de tres pacientes com vasculopatia polipoidal idiopatica da coroide. Resultados: Os quatro olhos mostraram lesoes sub-retinianas vermelho-alaranjadas, sendo que dois casos apresentaram descolamento hemorragico do epitelio pigmentado da retina, alem de manifestacoes exsudativas e hemorragicas associadas. A angiofluoresceinografia revelou dilatacoes aneurismaticas em ramificacoes anormais de vasos da coroide em apenas 1 caso, ao contrario da indocianinografia que claramente demonstrou as lesoes em todos os casos. A tomografia de coerencia optica confirmou descolamento hemorragico espontâneo do epitelio pigmentado da retina em 2 casos. Conclusao: A indocianinografia e o exame de escolha no diagnostico da vasculopatia polipoidal da coroide, mas em alguns casos a associacao com a tomografia de coerencia optica e angiofluoresceinografia pode ser util no diagnostico e seguimento.Purpose: To describe the role of the optical coherence tomography, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography findings in the diagnosis of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV). Methods: A series of four eyes of three patients thought to have IPCV were examined and evaluated by optical coherence tomography, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiographies. Results: Fluorescein angiography was highly important for the diagnosis only in case 1. Indocyanine green angiography showed a branching network of the vessels with marginal vascular dilatations in all cases. Optical coherence tomography showed hemorrhagic detachment of the retinal pigment epithelium contiguous with the anterior delimitation of the polypoidal elements in two cases. Conclusion: The association of clinical manifestations with fluorescein and indocyanine green angiographies and optical coherence tomography can be useful in the differential diagnosis of exudative maculopathies, particularly IPCV with serohemorrhagic manifestations.

Ganciclovir intravítreo para retinite por citomegalovírus em pacientes com AIDS

Purpose: To study high intravitreal dosage of ganciclovir (2000 or 4000 micrograms) in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cytomegalovirus retinitis. Methods: Prospective study for high dose intravitreal ganciclovir (2000 or 4000 micrograms) between 1996 and 1998 at the Federal University of Sao Paulo - Paulista Medical School in patients with diagnosis of AIDS, herpetic cytomegalovirus and intolerance to intravenous or oral treatment. Results: Of 1950 patients examined, 21 (1.07%) were intolerant to systemic treatment (ganciclovir or foscarnet). Of those, 21 with 37.1 years average age, corresponding to 31 eyes were treated with intravitreous medication. Seventeen patients (81%) were male. Of the 21 patients, 11 (14 eyes) received 2000 µg intravitreous medication and 10 (17 eyes) received 4000 µg. In the beginning of the treatment 100% of the patients showed low vision. At the end of the treatment (22 weeks on average), group I (intravitreous medication 2000 µg) showed increase of visual acuity (VA) in 35.7%, the same VA in 50% and decrease of VA in 14.3% due to retinal detachment. In the group II (intravitreous medication 4000 µg) 58.8% had increased VA, 23.5% had the same VA and 17.6% had decrease of VA due to cataract and retinal detachment. Conclusions: Intravitreous injection of a high dose (2000 or 4000 micrograms/0,1 ml) of ganciclovir for the treatment of a CMV retinitis is satisfactory. The adverse effects are cataract and retinal detachment. The retinal detachment could not be conclusively attributed to the injections and was probably a secondary complication of cytomegalovirus retinitis.