Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in Congolese Patients

Outcome of peripapillary polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy treatment using combination therapy intravitreal ranibizumab and thermal retinal laser photocoagulation

We present the case of a middle-aged female Nigerian diagnosed to have right eye peripapillary polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). At presentation, her right eye Snellen visual acuity was 6/24+ (unaided) and 6/12 (aided) and the left eye was 6/9 (unaided) and 6/6 (aided). Fundus fluorescein angiography showed a hyperfluorescent peripapillary subretinal lesion associated with subretinal fluid demonstrated on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The PCV lesion was successfully treated using a combination of 3 monthly doses of intravitreal ranibizumab initially, followed by one session of focal thermal retinal laser photocoagulation. Her clinical state has remained stable after 5 years of follow-up, requiring no further treatment. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of combination therapy and can be a strategy for treating this PCV type. Successful treatment using this approach will reduce the burden of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, e.g., ranibizumab injections.

Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: An Update on Diagnosis and Treatment

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a vascular disease of the choroid that leads to hemorrhagic and exudative macular degeneration. It may cause significant vision loss and thus affect the quality-of-life and psychological well-being. Non-invasive, non-ICGA-based OCT criteria have shown reliable results to plan adjunct photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment, with the complete and consistent coverage of polypoidal lesions (PL) and branching neovascular network (BNN). The safety and efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) monotherapy and its combination with verteporfin PDT have been established. However, treatment is still challenging due to frequent follow-ups, non-availability of PDT, and need for multiple anti-VEGF injection visits that increase the treatment burden and lead to patients being lost to follow-up. Effective treatments that prolong intervals between injections while maintaining vision and anatomical gains remain a critical unmet need. Longer acting molecules, like brolucizumab, have shown non-inferiority in BCVA gains and superior anatomical outcomes compared to other anti-VEGF agents. Newer therapies in the pipeline to enhance the efficacy and longevity of treatment include Faricimab and a port delivery system (PDS). This review summarizes the most recent diagnostic and treatment approaches in PCV to offer better treatment avenues.

Profile of retinal diseases in adult patients attending two major eye clinics in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo

AIM

To determine the frequency and types of retinal diseases and the extend of the related visual loss in adult patients attending two public eye clinics of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

METHODS

Review of medical records of patients with retinal diseases seen in the major eye clinics in Kinshasa, the University Hospital of Kinshasa (UHK) and Saint Joseph Hospital (SJH), from January 2012 to December 2014. Demographics and diagnoses were retrieved and analyzed. Outcome measures were frequency and prevalence of retinal diseases, blindness and low vision.

RESULTS

A total of 40 965 patients aged 40y or older were examined during this period in both clinics. Of these, 1208 had retinal disease, giving a 3-year and an annual prevalence of 3% and 1%, respectively. Mean age was 61.7±10.7y, and 55.8% of the patients were males. Arterial hypertension (68.1%) and diabetes (43.3%) were the most common systemic comorbidities. Hypertensive retinopathy (41.8%), diabetic retinopathy (37.9%), age-related macular degeneration (AMD; 14.6%), and chorioretinitis and retinal vein occlusion (7.3% each) were the most common retinal diseases, with 3-year prevalence rates of 1.3%, 1.0%, 0.43%, and 0.21% respectively. Bilateral low vision and blindness were present in 26.8% and 8.4% of the patients at presentation. Major causes of low vision and blindness were diabetic retinopathy (14.8%), AMD (4.9%), retinal detachment (2.8%), and retinal vein occlusion (2.5%). The prevalence was significantly higher among males than females, and at the UHK than SJH.

CONCLUSION

Retinal diseases are common among Congolese adult patients attending eye clinics in Kinshasa. They cause a significant proportion of low vision and blindness.