To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: AAO: Triamcinolone Injections May Reduce Need for Re-Treatments in Patients Undergoing Photodynamic Therapy URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/2475DA.htm Doctor's Guide October 26, 2004
By Earl R. Nichols NEW ORLEANS, LA -- October 26, 2004 -- The efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration appears to be prolonged when combined with administration of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA), according to study findings. The procedure has been shown to be safe and effective, particularly in that it reduces the need for PDT re-treatment, something that has added significantly to the cost of PDT, putting the treatment beyond the reach of many patients. In a retrospective study conducted by Robert N. Johnson, MD, and colleagues, from the department of ophthalmology at the University of California at San Francisco, California, United States, 24 eyes that had been treated with PDT and then injected with triamcinolone were reviewed. The study findings were presented here October 24th, in poster form, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The study group was made up of 23 patients, 10 of whom had had prior PDT and were treated with intravitreal triamcinolone, and 13 who had not had prior PDT but were treated with triamcinolone when they had their first photodynamic treatment. The steroid was injected in concentrations of 10 mg in a 0.5 cc solution at the time of their first PDT treatment. These were compared with 20 patients who had had prior PDT in what is known as the TAP protocol, which spells out how PDT is to be used in the general clinical setting, but did not receive IVTA. The rate of re-treatment at the end of 12 months was 0.48 for those receiving IVTA and PDT combined, compared with 1.9 for those who had been treated previously with PDT and triamcinolone, and 3.4 for those receiving the PDT (TAP). At all time points (3, 6, 9 and 12 months), patients who had received PDT according to the TAP protocol were more likely to require re-treatment. However, for those who received IVTA injections within 1 week of the initial therapy, the mean length of time before they needed re-treatment was 270 days. At the end of 12 months, there were no meaningful differences in visual acuity between patients who were treated with PDT according to the TAP protocol and those who were treated with PDT followed by triamcinolone injections. Triamcinolone is a potent steroid that has anti-inflammatory and possibly anti-angiogenic effects, and is considered to be relatively inexpensive. For patients who are having PDT performed to treat AMD, the need for re-treatment as well as the need for more frequent fluorescein angiography adds significantly to the cost, so the use of triamcinolone could reduce the cost of the procedure significantly, while at the same time adding some measure of protection to whatever visual acuity the patient might have left. This study was a retrospective chart review whereas other prospective studies in Europe have shown that the properly timed administration of both PDT and triamcinolone in combination can substantially improve visual acuity in some patients, and stabilize vision loss in others. [Presentation title: Combined Photodynamic Therapy and Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide for AMD Abstract: PO147] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.