Treatment of Rubeosis iridis with Photodynamic Therapy with Verteporfin – A New Therapeutic and Prophylactic Option for Patients with the Risk of Neovascular Glaucoma?

Vol. 35, No. 1, 2003

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Short Communication

Treatment of Rubeosis iridis with Photodynamic Therapy with Verteporfin – A New Therapeutic and Prophylactic Option for Patients with the Risk of Neovascular Glaucoma?
Valeska A. Müller, Peter Ruokonen, Meike Schellenbeck, Christian Hartmann, Manfred Tetz

Department of Ophthalmology, Charité Campus Virchow, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmic Res 2003;35:60-64 (DOI: 10.1159/000068195)

Key Words

Anterior segment neovasculature
Photodynamic therapy
Rubeosis iridis

Abstract

Patients with ischaemic retinopathy who show iris neovascularization despite panretinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) very often develop a neovascular glaucoma. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been shown to occlude neovascularization without damage to physiologic vessels or adjacent tissue in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and might also be of value for patients with neovascular glaucoma who did not benefit from the PRP. First results of a monocentre, open label, intra-individual controlled, pilot phase I/II, dose-finding study demonstrate that PDT with verteporfin is capable of occluding neovascular vessels for a defined period of time without damaging adjacent tissue or physiologic iris vessels. Whether this vessel occlusion will have an impact on the progression of rubeosis or neovascular glaucoma will be the subject of further investigation.

Author Contacts

Dr. Valeska Anja Müller
Department of Ophthalmology, Charité
Klinikum Campus Virchow, Augustenburger Platz 1
D–13353 Berlin (Germany)
Tel. +49 30 450 554202, Fax +49 30 450 554900, E-Mail valeska_mueller@hotmail.com

Article Information

Received: Received: April 14, 2002
Accepted after revision: September 16, 2002
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 22

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