Short-term efficacy of intravitreal aflibercept in treatment-naive patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Abstract

To evaluate the functional and morphologic outcomes of patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy who underwent intravitreal aflibercept treatment. We prospectively studied all the treatment-naive patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy who were scheduled to undergo intravitreal aflibercept between February 2013 and July 2013. The best-corrected visual acuity was compared before treatment and at 6 months after the initial treatment. Changes in the central foveal thickness, choroidal thickness, presence/absence of subretinal fluid, fibrin, pigment epithelial detachment, and subretinal hemorrhage were also evaluated. The regression of the polyps was assessed using indocyanine green angiography. A total of 16 patients were included in this study. A significantly better best-corrected visual acuity at 6 months was seen, compared with that at baseline (P = 0.041). The mean central foveal thickness significantly decreased from 417 ± 127 μm to 187 ± 50 μm (P < 0.001). The mean choroidal thickness also significantly decreased from 250 ± 63 μm to 217 ± 64 μm (P = 0.011). Overall, a complete resolution was obtained in 93.3% (14/15) of the cases with subretinal fluid, 75.0% (3/4) of the cases with fibrin, and 88.9% (8/9) of the cases with subretinal hemorrhage. Fifty-six percent (5/9) of the cases with pigment epithelial detachment obtained a complete improvement, whereas 33.3% (3/9) exhibited a partial decrease. The rate of polyp regression was 75.0% (12/16). Intravitreal aflibercept was well tolerated and had improved the vision of treatment-naive patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy when it was evaluated at short-term follow-up examinations. Intravitreal aflibercept might be associated with a high possibility of achieving involution of polyps and reducing exudative findings.