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

PURPOSE: To evaluate the functional and morphologic outcomes of patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy who underwent intravitreal aflibercept treatment.

METHODS: 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.

RESULTS: 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).

CONCLUSION: 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.