Long-term control of choroidal neovascularization in quiescent congenital toxoplasma retinochoroiditis with photodynamic therapy: 4-year results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the long-term control of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

METHODS

The records of 13 patients with classic subfoveal CNV associated with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis treated with PDT were reviewed. All patients were followed up for at least 48 months. Postoperative visual acuity was defined as a gain or loss of two or more lines of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), respectively. Post-treatment CNV size was dichotomized into "increased" if the major CNV diameter (CMD) had increased by >or=300 microm, and as "stable/reduced" if it had decreased by >or=300 microm or had not changed by >300 microm.

RESULTS

Nine patients [four males (44.4%) and five females (55.6%)] with a mean age of 20.1 +/- 4.3 years (range 14-27 years) were enrolled in the study. All had unilateral involvement. The median follow-up was 55 months (minimum 48, maximum 65 months). At the 48-month follow-up, all patients had stable/improved BCVA and a mean stable/reduced CMD (846 +/- 326.5 microm), with the BCVA having improved significantly (p < 0.0001) from 0.29 +/- 0.19 at baseline to 0.54 +/- 0.16 at 48 months.

CONCLUSION

Photodynamic therapy seems to be a safe and effective approach to the long-term control of subfoveal CNV associated with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. Further trials are needed to validate these findings.