J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2018 Oct;59(10):908-914. 10.3341/jkos.2018.59.10.908.

Long-term Recurrence in Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration or Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy without First Year Recurrence

• Tae KS
• Kim JW
• Kim CG
• Lee DW
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2422578
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2018.59.10.908

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the timing and incidence of long-term recurrence in patients with typical neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), in patients with no recurrence during the first year after diagnosis.
METHODS
A retrospective review of medical records was performed for typical neovascular AMD or PCV patients with no recurrence during 10 months after three, monthly anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections. The timing and incidence of recurrence after 10 months were identified. In addition, parameters were compared between the recurrence group and the no recurrence group to identify predictive factors for long-term recurrence.
RESULTS
The results were analyzed using 49 eyes from 49 patients, with 19 eyes with typical neovascular AMD and 30 eyes with PCV. Patients were followed-up for a mean period of 32.3 ± 9.3 months after three loading injections. Recurrence was noted in 20 eyes (40.8%) at a mean of 22.6 ± 9.4 months after the third anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection. The timing of recurrence was as follows: 13 eyes at ≥ 12 months and < 24 months, four eyes at ≥ 24 months and < 36 months, and three eyes at ≥ 36 months. When comparing the recurrence and no-recurrence groups, the follow-up period was significantly longer in the recurrence group (p = 0.003). However, there was no other factors that were significantly associated with recurrence.
CONCLUSIONS
Long-term recurrence occurred in 40.8% of the cases when there was no recurrence during the first year after diagnosis. No factors predictive of recurrence were found. These results imply the importance of long-term and continuous follow-up examination of all patients.

Keyword

Age-related macular degeneration; Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor; Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy; Recurrence

MeSH Terms

Choroid*
Diagnosis
Endothelial Growth Factors
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Macular Degeneration*
Medical Records
Recurrence*
Retrospective Studies
Endothelial Growth Factors

Figure

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  Figure 1 Kaplan-Meier curves showing cumulative incidence of recurrence, according to the follow-up period. There was no significant difference in the recurrence between typical neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (p=0.842).

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