Objective To observe the changes in choroidal characteristics of polypoid choroidal vascular disease (PCV) eyes after intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs, and to preliminarily evaluate its predictive effect on the response of PCV anti-VEGF drugs.Methods A retrospective clinical study. From January 2015 to May 2020, 63 eyes (63 PCV patients) diagnosed in NanJing Medical University Eye Hospital were included in the study. There were 39 eyes (39 males) and 24 eyes (24 females); all were monocular, with the average age of 62.53±6.05 years old. All eyes were treated with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, and those with poor response after treatment were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with anti-VEGF drugs. Among the 63 eyes, 38 eyes did not respond or responded poorly after treatment, and 25 eyes responded well. Based on response results, patients were divided into the poor response group and the good response group. The confocal laser synchronous angiography system (HRA+OCT) enhanced depth scanning technology of Herdelberg (Germany) was used to measure the foveal choroid thickness (SFCT) and the choroidal large vessel thickness (LCVT). The choroidal hyperpermeability (CVH) was judged based on the ICGA inspection results. CVH: In the middle and late stages (10-15 min after indocyanine green injection), the choroid of the posterior pole can be seen with multifocal strong fluorescence with blurred edges. The SFCT and LVCT changes of the two groups of eyes before treatment and 6 months after treatment in the good response group, and 6 months after the treatment of the poor response group combined with PDT were observed. SFCT and LCVT were compared with t test before and after treatment.Results Before treatment, of the 63 eyes, 38 eyes (60.3%) with CVH manifestations, of which 5 eyes (20.0%, 5/25) and 33 eyes (86.8%, 33/ 38). The SFCT and LCVT of the good response group and the poor response group were 244.16±23.74, 152.76±22.70 μm and 367.34±35.21, 271.84±35.42 μm, respectively. The comparison of SFCT and LVCT between the two groups of eyes before treatment showed statistically significant differences (t=7.24, 6.87; P=0.01, 0.01). Six months after treatment, the SFCT and LVCT of the eyes in the good response group were 241.04±32.56 and 150.44±23.45 μm, respectively; compared with those before treatment, the difference was not statistically significant (t=5.35, 8.64; P=0.08, 0.07). Six months after the poor response group combined with PDT treatment, SFCT and LCVT were 311.63±25.36 and 220.11±41.30 μm respectively; compared with those before treatment, the difference was statistically significant (t=6.84, 9.23; P=0.02, 0.01). After treatment, the CVH manifestations of all the eyes did not change significantly, but the eyes of the poor response group were treated with PDT, and the multifocal strong fluorescence was significantly weakened.Conclusions PCV thick choroid is mostly caused by abnormal thickening of choroidal large vessels. Eyes with thick choroid and CVH have poor response to anti-VEGF drug therapy alone, and combined PDT therapy may be more suitable for this type of patients.

Citation： Zhao Yue, Jiang Qin, Yao Jin. Choroidal characteristics to predict the therapeutic response of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases, 2020, 36(10): 754-758. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn511434-20200503-00192 Copy