Association Between the Efcacy of Half-Dose Photodynamic Therapy With Indocyanine Green Angiography and Optical Coherence Tomography

Findings in the Treatment of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

MASSIMO NICOL, DANIELA ZOLI, MARIA MUSOLINO, AND CARLO ENRICO TRAVERSO
PURPOSE: To determine the efcacy of half-dose photodynamic therapy (PDT) in relation to indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) ndings for treating chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: Thirty-eight eyes of 37 patients with chronic CSC and symptoms for at least 6 months were recruited. PDT was performed using half the normal dose of verteporn. A total light energy of 50 J/cm2 over 83 seconds was delivered to the area of choroidal hyperuorescence as observed on ICGA. The resolution of the subretinal uid and recurrence rates were assessed in relation to the different degrees of choroidal hyperuorescence and the distribution of uid in the neuroepithelium, namely subretinal uid or posterior retinal cystoid degeneration. RESULTS: After half-dose PDT a dry macula was obtained in 86.8% and 92.1% of the eyes at 1 month and at the last follow-up (14.2 5.8 months) respectively. ICGA at baseline showed intermediate and intense hyperuorescence in 39.4% and 60.5% of the eyes respectively. All eyes with intermediate hyperuorescence had only subretinal uid at OCT and a dry macula was obtained in 87% and 100% at 1 month and at the last follow-up after half-dose PDT. In the intense hyperuorescence group, 82.6% and 17.4% of the eyes had subretinal uid only or both subretinal uid and posterior retinal cystoid degeneration respectively. In the intense hyperuorescence group with subretinal uid only, a dry macula was obtained in 89.5% and 100% of the eyes at 1 month and at the last follow-up respectively. In the intense hyperuorescence group with both subretinal uid and posterior retinal cystoid degeneration, a dry macula was obtained in 75% and 25% of the eyes at 1 month and at the last follow-up respectively. Overall, of the 23 eyes with intense hyperuorescence, 20 eyes Accepted for publication Aug 11, 2011. From Clinica Oculistica Universit di Genova (M.N., D.Z., M.M., C.E.T.), and Fondazione per la Macula Onlus (M.N.), Genoa, Italy. Inquiries to Massimo Nicol, Clinica Oculistica Universit di Genova, Di.N.O.G. Viale Benedetto XV, 5 16132 Genova, Italy; e-mail: massimonicolo@occhioallaretina.it

(87%) had a dry macula starting from 1 month for the entire follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The half-dose PDT success rate in eyes with chronic CSC depends also on the distribution of uid in the neuroepithelium. Half-dose PDT might not be effective or the recurrence rate might be high in eyes with posterior retinal cystoid degeneration. (Am J Ophthalmol 2012;153:474 480. 2012 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

characterized by the development of serous neurosensory retinal detachment at the posterior pole. In the majority of patients, CSC is self-limiting and patients usually have a good visual prognosis.1 However, in cases of chronic CSC with persistent serous retinal detachment and chronic decompensation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), progressive visual loss attributable to photoreceptor disruption and cystoid edema of the neurosensory retina might develop.1,2 The increasing use of indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in CSC has improved the understanding of the pathogenesis of CSC and has demonstrated that during CSC choroidal circulation in addition to RPE is primarily affected, resulting in multifocal areas of choroidal vascular hyperpermeability.3,4 Treatment options for chronic CSC are thermal laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy. As direct thermal laser has the disadvantages of causing RPE damage and iatrogenic choroidal neovascularization (CNV), more effective and less harmful treatment modalities have been proposed. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for CSC is reported to be efcacious in reducing subretinal uid and increasing visual acuity in most patients.5,6 One of the strengths of PDT lies in its security and the assumed absence of side effects, although standard PDT can have some signicant negative implications such as RPE atrophy, choriocapillaris ischemia, and secondary CNV.5,6 In order to avoid PDT-related complications, half-dose or low-uence PDT has been suggested by different authors.79 Half-dose or low-uence PDT with verteporn is effective in inducing reabsorption of subretinal or intraRIGHTS RESERVED. 0002-9394/$36.00 doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2011.08.015

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TABLE 1. Central Foveal Thickness in 38 Eyes With Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Treated With Half-Dose Photodynamic Therapy
Resolution of Fluid Central Foveal Thickness SD Complete Partial Absent

Baseline 1 month Last follow-up (14 months)

a

345.61 101.00 m 213.07 47.20 ma

86.8% (n 33) 92.1% (n 35)

10.5% (n 4) 2.6% (n 1)

2.6% (n 1) 5.3% (n 2)

P value was signicant at the last follow-up (P .001).

retinal uid with some benecial visual outcomes in the majority of patients with CSC.8,9 Retinal sensitivity increases in patients with CSC treated with half-dose PDT, showing a high safety prole of this treatment.10 The exact mechanism of PDT in treating chronic CSC is not conclusive, but it is thought to be caused by short-term choriocapillaris hypoperfusion and long-term choroidal vascular remodeling, leading to a reduction in choroidal congestion, vascular hyperpermeability, and extravascular leakage.11 Previous studies, focusing on the ICGA ndings, showed a high correlation between choroidal hyperpermeability and the efcacy of PDT.12 However, it is not clear if there might be factors other than ICGA ndings that could inuence the outcome after PDT. In chronic CSC uid usually accumulates under the retina, though in some cases it can also inltrate the neuroepithelium to form posterior cystoid retinal degeneration.2 The current study is focused on baseline ICGA ndings as well as OCT ndings in eyes with chronic CSC and the associations between such ndings and the efcacy of long-term results after half-dose PDT has been evaluated.

METHODS
THIS STUDY WAS A RETROSPECTIVE, INTERVENTIONAL

case series conducted in the Department of Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Genetics of the University of Genova, Italy. Patients were offered treatment if they had persistent uid involving the macula. Inclusion criteria were: 1) a 6-month history of CSC; 2) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/200 or better; 3) presence of subretinal uid involving the fovea with or without posterior cystoid retinal degeneration on OCT; and 4) presence of active angiographic leakage on uorescein angiography (FA) caused by CSC but not CNV or other diseases. Indocyanine green angiography was performed on all patients in order to outline choroidal hyperpermeability areas. Patients who had received focal thermal laser photocoagulation for the treatment of CSC prior to this study were included, whereas patients previously treated with antivascular endothelial growth factor or steroid intraocular injections were excluded. Snellen BCVA was mea-

sured at the baseline and post-PDT visits. Evaluation of macular detachment was performed using a spectraldomain optical coherence tomography (OCT) machine (Topcon 3D OCT-1000; Topcon, Capelle a/d IJssel, the Netherlands). Central foveal thickness was measured by way of the 12-radial scan protocols at baseline, at 1 month, and at the last follow-up visit. FA and ICGA were performed in all patients at baseline and at the last follow-up visit after PDT. Additional FA and ICGA were carried out on patients with persisting or recurring CSC during follow-up. PDT was performed by administering half the normal dose of verteporn (Visudyne; Novartis AG, Lausanne, Switzerland) as previously described.8 Verteporn was infused over 10 minutes followed by delivery of laser at 693 nm after 5 minutes from the commencement of infusion to target the area of choroidal hyperpermeability. A total light energy of 50 J/cm2 over 83 seconds was delivered to the area of choroidal hyperuorescence as observed in ICGA. Areas of choroidal vascular abnormality that were supposed to cause the serous detachment were considered to be treated. In order to classiy ICGA ndings according to the criteria previously reported,12 1 of the authors (M.N.) reviewed all baseline middle-phase ICG angiograms about 10 minutes after ICG injection. Revisions were masked with regard to outcomes in order to enhance objectivity. After treatment, patients were given protective glasses and instructed to avoid strong light for 2 days. The main outcome measures of the study included the percentage of patients with a dry macula at 1 month and at the last follow-up visit, BCVA, and central foveal thickness.

RESULTS
A TOTAL OF 38 EYES OF 37 PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC CSC

received half-dose PDT. The mean SD age of patients was 48.5 10.3 years (range 3170) and 34 of the patients (91.8%) were male. Baseline mean standard deviation (SD) BCVA was 0.74 0.19 (range 0.31.0). Mean follow-up was 14.2 5.8 months (median 12, range 8 30). Baseline mean SD central foveal thickness was 345.61 101.00 m.
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At baseline, 34 of the 38 eyes (89.5%) had subretinal uid alone and 4 eyes (10.5%) had combined subretinal uid and posterior cystoid retinal degeneration. Baseline FA showed 5 eyes (13.1%) with focal leakage and 33 eyes (86.8%) with diffuse leakage. On ICGA, choroidal hyperuorescence was identied in all patients. Fifteen eyes (39.4%) showed an intermediate hyperuorescence and 23 eyes (60.5%) showed an intense hyperuorescence. All 15 eyes (100%) in the intermediate choroidal hyperuorescence group had subretinal uid only at OCT. Of the 23 eyes in the intense hyperuorescence group, 19 (82.6%) had subretinal uid only, while the remaining 4 (17.4%) also had posterior cystoid retinal degeneration. At 1 month from PDT, the resolution of the uid was complete, partial, or absent in 86.8% (33/38), 10.5% (4/38), and 2.6% (1/38) of eyes respectively. At the last follow-up visit the resolution of the uid was complete, partial, or absent in 92.1% (35/38), 2.6% (1/38), and 5.3% (2/38) of the eyes respectively. Overall, there was a signicant (P .001) decrease of the central foveal thickness (Table 1). BCVA was unchanged or had improved by 3 lines in 57.8% (22/38) and 39.5% (15/38) of the eyes respectively. Only 1 eye lost 3 lines at the last follow-up visit. Overall BCVA improved signicantly (0.83 0.2, P .001). The rates of resolution of subretinal uid based on ICGA and OCT ndings are reported in Table 2. In the intermediate hyperuorescence group, subretinal uid recovered completely in 87% (13/ 15) and 100% (15/15) of eyes at 1 month and at last follow-up respectively. In the intense hyperuorescence group with subretinal uid only, a dry macula was obtained in 89.5% (17/19) and 100% (19/19) of the eyes at 1 month and at the last follow-up respectively. In the intense hyperuorescence group with posterior cystoid retinal degeneration, a dry macula was obtained in 75% (3/4) and 25% (1/4) of the eyes at 1 month and at last follow-up visit respectively. Overall, in the intense hyperuorescence group, 87% (13/15) of eyes had a dry macula starting from 1 month after treatment and lasting throughout the follow-up period (Figures 1 through 3). Two eyes, in the intermediate hyperuorescence group, had received focal thermal laser photocoagulation prior to this study. The mean number of PDT treatments required during follow-up was 1.13 treatment sessions. One single session of half-dose PDT achieved treatment response in 33 of 38 eyes (86.8%). Five of 38 eyes (13.2%), either with persistent or recurrent serous macular detachment, underwent a second half-dose PDT on average after 6.6 months (range 312 months). Four of the 5 eyes had an intense hyperuorescence pattern and of these, 2 had subretinal uid plus posterior cystoid retinal degeneration. Retreatment led to a complete resolution of exudation in 3 of the 5 eyes at last follow-up visit. Two eyes with persistent subretinal uid and/or posterior cystoid retinal degeneration at last follow-up visit also presented an intense hyperuorescence. None of the patients developed any
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TABLE 2. Rate of Resolution of Subretinal Fluid or Posterior Cystoid Retinal Degeneration in 38 Eyes Affected by Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Treated With HalfDose Photodynamic Therapy

VA at Last Follow-up (Range)

0.28 (0.31)

Resolution of Posterior Cystoid Retinal Degeneration

1 of 4 eyes (25%)

At Last Follow-up

3 of 4 eyes (75%)

At 1 Month

19 of 19 eyes (100%)

Resolution of Subretinal Fluid

15 of 15 eyes (100%)

At Last Follow-up

1 (0.61)

Intense hyperuorescence

Intermediate hyperuorescence

Baseline ICGA Findings

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ICGA indocyanine green angiography; OCT optical coherence tomography; VA visual acuity.

17 of 19 eyes (89.5%)

No. Eyes

23

0.7 (0.31)

0.7 (0.61)

Baseline VA (Range)

15

Subretinal uid in 19 eyes; posterior cystoid retinal degeneration in 4 eyes Subretinal uid in 15 eyes; posterior cystoid retinal degeneration in 0 eyes

Baseline OCT Findings

13 of 15 eyes (87%)

At 1 Month

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systemic adverse event associated with verteporn infusion including infusion site complications and low back pain. None of the patients had any subjective or objective drop in vision immediately after PDT.

DISCUSSION
IN THE CURRENT STUDY OF 38 EYES, DRY MACULA WAS

obtained in 33 eyes (86.8%) at 1 month and in 35 eyes (92.1%) at the last follow-up visit after half-dose PDT. At baseline, the ndings on ICGA were intense hyperuorescence in 60.5% (n 23) of the eyes and intermediate hyperuorescence in 39.4% (n 15) of the eyes. We did not nd eyes without hyperuorescence area on ICGA. The effectiveness of half-dose PDT differed depending on the variations not only in the choroidal hyperpermeability as previously described12 but also in the distribution of the uid underneath the neuroepithelium. If we take into consideration the ICGA pattern only, then a dry macula was obtained in 87% of the eyes with intense hyperuorescence starting from 1 month post half-dose PDT, while a dry macula was obtained in 87% and 100% of the eyes with intermediate hyperuorescence at 1 month and at last follow-up respectively. Such results were not consistent with previous results in which all eyes with intense hyperuorescence had a complete resolution of subretinal uid.12 Based only on ICGA ndings, we should then conclude that eyes with intense hyperuorescence treated with half-dose PDT show a lower number of dry macula when compared to eyes with intermediate hyperuorescence. If, however, we analyze the same 2 groups based also on OCT ndings (Table 2), we nd that 19 of the 23 eyes in the intense hyperuorescence group had only subretinal uid, and of these, 89.5% and 100% had a dry macula at 1 month and at last follow-up respectively. Of the 4 remaining eyes in the intense hyperuorescence group with posterior cystoid retinal degeneration, only 1 had a dry macula at the last follow-up, although some intraretinal cysts persisted not involving the fovea. No posterior cystoid retinal degeneration was found in the intermediate hyperuorescence group. Overall, in our series of cases with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy we found 2 different patterns of uorescence on ICGA. All patients with intermediate choroidal hyperuorescence responded to half-dose PDT. Patients with
FIGURE 1. Left eye of a 47-year-old man with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. (Top left) Baseline late-phase uorescein angiography (FA) shows diffuse retinal pigment epithelial decompensation. (Top right) Baseline late indocyanine green angiography shows intense choroidal hyperuorescence. (Second row) Baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows posterior cystoid retinal degeneration and a subtle subretinal uid. (Third row) Three months after half-dose PDT, OCT shows the complete resolution of posterior cystoid retinal

degeneration and subretinal uid. (Fourth row) At the last follow-up visit (14 months) FA (Fourth row, right) shows persistent diffuse retinal pigment epithelial decompensation; ICGA (Fourth row, left) shows a slight reduction in choroidal hyperuorescence. (Bottom row) OCT shows recurred posterior cystoid retinal degeneration and subtle subretinal uid detachment.
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FIGURE 2. Right eye of a 41-year-old man with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. (Top, left and right) At baseline, middleand late-phase indocyanine green angiography shows intense choroidal hyperuorescence. (Second row) At baseline, optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows only subretinal uid. (Bottom row) At the last follow-up visit (24 months), OCT shows a complete dry macula. (Insert) Color photograph shows scan line.

intense choroidal hyperuorescence were further divided into 2 subgroups. Those cases with posterior cystoid retinal degeneration responded very poorly to half-dose PDT, while those without posterior cystoid retinal degeneration had an excellent response to PDT. We therefore hypothesize that posterior cystoid retinal degeneration might be another, and probably more reliable, predictive factor of PDT effectiveness. It has been suggested that posterior cystoid retinal degeneration originates from chorioretinal adherent lesions derived from atrophic RPE areas and is favored by the presence of brin attributable to long-standing RPE decompensation as well as choroidal hyperpermeability.2 478 AMERICAN JOURNAL
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In such areas, uid from the choriocapillaris exudes directly in the retina, causing cystoid degeneration. Though a relationship is probable, based on our data we cannot establish a direct relationship between the extent of chronicity and the presence of cystoid changes. We therefore speculate that the occurrence of posterior cystoid retinal degeneration might be considered a negative predictive factor of half-dose PDT effectiveness and should probably advise to modify PDT parameters or to investigate new treatment modalities, although similar results were obtained in 3 cases with cystoid macular degeneration using standard PDT.5 OPHTHALMOLOGY MARCH
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FIGURE 3. Left eye of a 49-year-old man with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. (Top left) Baseline late uorescein angiography shows multifocal retinal pigment epithelial leakage areas. (Top right) Baseline late indocyanine green angiography shows intermediate choroidal hyperuorescence. (Second row) Baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows wide subretinal uid. (Bottom row) At the last follow-up visit (19 months), OCT shows a complete dry macula.

As hyperuorescence areas on ICGA were found in all eyes of this case series, we cannot draw conclusions about the effectiveness of half-dose PDT in eyes with no hyperuorescence area on ICGA. In association with ICGA and OCT ndings, recurrence was another noteworthy nding in the current study. The recurrence rate in this study was 13.2% (5 out of 38 eyes), which is in line with the recurrence rate of previous reports (9%-21%).5,6,8 Four out of the 5 eyes that recurred were in the intense hyperuorescence group and 2 of the latter 4 also had posterior

cystoid retinal degeneration, which persisted at the last follow-up after retreatment. Of the remaining 3 eyes (2 eyes with intense hyperuorescence and 1 eye with intermediate hyperuorescence) with subretinal uid only, retreatment led to a complete resolution of the exudation. Based on our results, previous focal laser treatment does not appear to impact negatively on the outcomes after half-dose PDT. No eyes in the current study had choroidal ischemia or progression of RPE atrophy after PDT. Thus, our results conrm once again that half-dose PDT is a
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safe and effective treatment for chronic CSC leading to a complete resolution of retinal exudation in about 90% of cases, but it would be palliative for minor cases of CSC. Limitations of this study are the relatively small number of patients with posterior cystoid retinal degeneration. Although our data might have been inuenced by subjectivity in the evaluation of the indocyanine pattern, it appears that choroidal hyperpermeability is a necessary

condition, though failure of the PDT effect or recurrence could be better explained with the exudation status within the retina instead of the intensity degree of choroidal hyperuorescence. In conclusion, the resolution of exudation might be expected in eyes with subretinal uid regardless of the intensity of choroidal hyperuorescence after half-dose PDT. We should, however, be aware of persistence or recurrences of the disease in eyes with posterior cystoid retinal degeneration.

THE AUTHORS INDICATE NO FUNDING SUPPORT OR FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. INVOLVED IN DESIGN AND conduct of the study (M.N.); collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data (M.N., D.Z., M.M.); and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript (M.N., C.E.T.). The Institutional Review Board of the University of Genova San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy, approved the collection of data related to all the patients affected by central serous chorioretinopathy treated by photodynamic therapy. The data collection complies with Italian law. The study was conducted in accordance with the provisions stated in the Declaration of Helsinki. All patients signed written informed consent for research purposes. The authors wish to thank Alexia Piaggio for her assistance in reviewing the English language.

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porn for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: a short term pilot study. Br J Ophthalmol 2006;90(7):869 874. Chan WM, Lai TY, Lai RY, Tang EW, Liu DT, Lam DS. Safety enhanced photodynamic therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: one-year results of a prospective study. Retina 2008;28(1):8593. Reibaldi M, Cardascia N, Longo A, et al. Standard-uence versus low-uence photodynamic therapy in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: a non-randomized clinical trial. Am J Ophthalmol 2010;149(2):307315. Senturk F, Karacorlu M, Ozdemir H, Karacorlu SA, Uysal O. Microperimetric changes after photodynamic therapy for central serous chorioretinopathy. Am J Ophthalmol 2011; 151(2):303309. Chan WM, Lam DS, Lai TY, et al. Choroidal vascular remodelling in central serous chorioretinopathy after indocyanine green guided photodynamic therapy with verteporn: a novel treatment at the primary disease level. Br J Ophthalmol 2003;87(12):14531458. Inoue R, Sawa M, Tsujikawa M, Gomi F. Association between the efcacy of photodynamic therapy and indocyanine green angiography ndings for central serous chorioretinopathy. Am J Ophthalmol 2010;149(3):441 446.

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Biosketch
Massimo Nicol, MD, PhD, is a clinical ophthalmologist at University Eye Clinic, Di.N.O.G., San Martino Hospital, Genova, Italy. He completed his ophthalmology residency at University of Genova in 2000. His clinical and research expertise is in the area of medical retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and central serous chorioretinopathy.

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