Remodeling of the vascular channels in retinal angiomatous proliferations treated with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide and photodynamic therapy.
BACKGROUND: The objective was to describe the remodeling of the vascular channels in stage II retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) treated by intravitreal injections of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and subsequent photodynamic therapy (PDT). METHODS: Stage II RAP secondary to age-related macular degeneration was documented by dynamic digital fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography in 3 consecutive patients (3 eyes). All eyes were treated with intravitreal injection of TA (4 mg, 0.1 ml) followed by PDT 5-10 days later. RESULTS: Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) revealed a complete remodeling of the vascular structure of the three RAPs after treatment. The feeding retinal artery, which shunted a major part of the blood flow from the original arteriole toward the intraretinal neovascular complex before treatment, regained a normal appearance after treatment. With RAP closure, the blood flow was again directed through the original retinal arteriole, and the connection to the RAP was no longer visible. CONCLUSIONS: Stage II RAPs are difficult lesions to treat. A real remodeling of the vascular lesion is achieved with the combined use of intravitreal TA and PDT. This finding corroborates the need for randomized clinical trials currently under way to evaluate this combination treatment in wet, age-related macular degeneration.