• Users Online: 80048
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page

   Table of Contents      
BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Year : 2011  |  Volume : 59  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 62-64

Combination photodynamic therapy and bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization associated with toxoplasmosis


Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, 18, College Road, Chennai - 600 006, Tamil Nadu, India

Date of Submission07-Nov-2009
Date of Acceptance28-Aug-2009
Date of Web Publication16-Dec-2010

Correspondence Address:
Pukhraj Rishi
Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, 18, College Road, Chennai - 600 006, Tamil Nadu
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.73728

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 

A 14-year-old girl presenting with visual loss in both eyes was diagnosed to have healed toxoplasma retinochoroiditis in the right eye with active choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to toxoplasmosis in the left. She underwent combination photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal bevacizumab as primary treatment. PDT was performed as per the 'Treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration by Photodynamic therapy' study protocol and was followed by intravitreal bevacizumab after 2 days. CNV regressed at 8 weeks of follow-up and remained stable at 8 months of follow-up. The initial visual acuity improved from 20/120 to 20/30. Combination therapy with PDT and intravitreal bevacizumab appears to be effective in the treatment of CNV secondary to toxoplasma retinochoroiditis.

Keywords: Bevacizumab, choroidal neovascularization, photodynamic therapy, toxoplasmosis


How to cite this article:
Rishi P, Venkataraman A, Rishi E. Combination photodynamic therapy and bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization associated with toxoplasmosis. Indian J Ophthalmol 2011;59:62-4

How to cite this URL:
Rishi P, Venkataraman A, Rishi E. Combination photodynamic therapy and bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization associated with toxoplasmosis. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2011 [cited 2024 Mar 29];59:62-4. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2011/59/1/62/73728

Ocular toxoplasmosis is an important cause of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the pediatric age group. [1] The development of CNV adjacent to retinochoroidal scars is a well-known late complication contributing to loss of useful vision due to foveal involvement. Treatment modalities for CNV secondary to toxoplasma retinochoroiditis include laser photocoagulation, submacular surgery, photodynamic therapy (PDT) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. [1] We report a case of CNV secondary to ocular toxoplasmosis treated with a combination of verteporfin-PDT and intravitreal bevacizumab. Combination therapy for CNV secondary to toxoplasmosis has not been reported in the past.


  Case Report Top


A 14-year-old girl presented with a 1-year history of deterioration of vision in both eyes. There were no significant ocular problems in the past. Medical and family history and systemic examination were unremarkable. On ocular examination, her best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at presentation was CF 1 mt, N36 in the right eye and 20/120, N18 in the left eye. Biomicroscopic examination did not show any evidence of intra-ocular inflammation and the anterior segment was unremarkable in both eyes. Fundus evaluation of the right eye showed the presence of a punched-out pigmented lesion with well-demarcated borders at the macula that was suggestive of a healed toxoplasma lesion [Figure 1]A. Clinical findings were confirmed on fluorescein angiography [Figure 1]B and Optical coherence tomography [Figure 1]C. Left eye examination not only showed a punched-out pigmented lesion at the macula but also a choroidal neovascular membrane with adjacent subretinal fluid and hemorrhage just medial to the pigmented scar [Figure 2]A.
Figure 1: At presentation, right eye color fundus photograph (A) reveals a punched-out pigmented lesion with well-demarcated borders at the macula suggestive of a healed toxoplasma scar. Fluorescein angiography (B) reveals staining of the retinal scar. Optical coherence tomography reveals retinal atrophy corresponding to the lesion (C)

Click here to view
Figure 2: At presentation, left eye color fundus photograph (A) reveals a pigmented lesion at the macula along with a choroidal neovascular membrane, adjacent subretinal hemorrhage and fluid medial to the pigmented scar. Fluorescein angiography (B, C) reveals an active, subfoveal classic choroidal neovascular membrane with profuse leakage. Blocked choroidal fluorescence due to the overlying hemorrhage is also noted. Optical coherence tomography reveals subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane and subretinal fluid adjacent to a subretinal scar

Click here to view


The clinical findings were confirmed on fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The FFA of the left eye revealed an active subfoveal classic choroidal neovascular membrane with profuse leakage. Blocked choroidal fluorescence due to the overlying hemorrhage was also noted [Figure 2]B. OCT revealed subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) and subretinal fluid adjacent to a subretinal scar [Figure 2]C. The routine hemogram, kidney function tests and liver function tests were within the normal range. Mantoux test was negative and chest X-ray was normal. The anti-toxoplasma IgM titer was negative; IgG titer was however equivocal. A diagnosis of healed toxoplasma retinochoroiditis in the right eye and subfoveal CNVM secondary to toxoplasma retinochoroiditis in the left eye was arrived at. The nature of the disease and treatment options were explained. The patient underwent verteporfin-PDT as per the 'Treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration by Photodynamic therapy' protocol. [2] This was followed by an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) after 2 days.

At 8 weeks follow-up, the CNV showed regression with no evidence of subretinal fluid or hemorrhage on clinical examination or OCT. The BCVA improved to 20/30, N6 and the fundus remained stable up to the eighth month of follow-up [Figure 3]. No adverse ocular or systemic event related to the treatment procedure was encountered.
Figure 3: At 8 months of follow-up, color fundus photograph (A) reveals a regressed choroidal neovascular membrane. Optical coherence tomography reveals (B) a high reflective subfoveal scar

Click here to view



  Discussion Top


The natural history of CNV secondary to toxoplasmosis reveals a poor visual prognosis. [3],[4],[5] The CNV originates adjacent to the retinochoroidal scars and leads to central visual loss due to foveal involvement. The different treatment modalities described for CNV secondary to toxoplasmosis in children include laser photocoagulation, submacular surgery, PDT and anti-VEGF agents. [1] Laser photocoagulation is no longer preferred as it results in a permanent scotoma. Uemura et al. [6] assessed the efficacy of surgical removal of membranes in a series of 14 children with subfoveal CNV of which one was secondary to toxoplasmosis. The initial visual acuity of 20/100 in this patient improved to a final visual acuity of 20/20 at 27 months follow-up. The favorable outcome is attributed to the solitary subretinal site of ingrowth that is easily amenable to surgery. [7] However, surgery can have its own complications and does not prevent recurrences.

The use of verteporfin-PDT, although initially used for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and myopic CNV, has now been extended beyond these indications to inflammatory and infectious etiologies. Mauget Faysse et al. [8] have found verteporfin-PDT to be efficacious for subfoveal CNV associated with toxoplasma retinochoroiditis. In their study of eight patients, the mean visual acuity improved from 20/225 to 20/123 during a mean follow-up period of 25 months. Ben Yahia et al. [9] recently reported the resolution of two CNVMs secondary to toxoplasma retinochoroiditis following administration of a single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab as primary treatment or as rescue treatment following unsuccessful PDT.

There is however no report of any patient with CNV secondary to toxoplasmosis who has been managed with combination PDT and intravitreal bevacizumab as a primary treatment. The combined regime is postulated to have a beneficial synergistic effect that could reduce the need for repeated injections. Combination therapy using PDT and bevacizumab as the first-line management in such cases could be a viable option. [10] Larger studies with longer follow-up may reveal that visual outcome with combination therapy could be better than PDT alone.

 
  References Top

1.
Sivaprasad S, Moore AT. Choroidal neovascularisation in children. Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:451-4.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Treatment of Age related macular degeneration with photodynamic therapy (TAP) study group: Photodynamic therapy of subfoveal CNV in ARMD with verteporfin; One year results of 2 Randomized clinical trials- TAP report. Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:1329-45.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Atmaca Ls, Simsek T, Batioglu F. Clinical features and prognosis in ocular toxoplasmosis. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2004;48:386-91.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Augsburger JJ, Benson WE. Subretinal neovascularisation in chronic uveitis. Albrecht Von Graefes Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol 1980;215:43-51.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Goshorn EB, Hoover DL, Eller AW, Friberg TR, Jarrett WH 2 nd , Sorr EM. Subretinal revascularization in children and adolescents. J Paediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1995;32:178-82.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Uemura A, Thomas MA. Visual Outcome after Surgical Removal of Choroidal Neovascularization in Pediatric Patients. Arch Ophthalmol 2000;118:1373-8.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Melberg NS, Thomas MA, Burgess DB. The surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation. Ingrowth as a site of predictor of visual outcome. Retina 1996;16:190-5.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Mauget-FaϏsse M, Mimoun G, Ruiz-Moreno JM, Quaranta-El Maftouhi M, De Laey JJ, Postelmans L, et al. Verteporfin photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascularisation associated with toxoplasma retinochoroiditis. Retina 2006;26:396-403.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Ben Yahia S, Herbort CP, Jenzeri S, Hmidi K, Attia S, Messaoud R, et al. Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) as primary and rescue treatment for choroidal neovascularization secondary to ocular toxoplasmosis. International Ophthalmol 2008;28:311-6.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Dhalla MS, Shah GK, Blinder KJ, Ryan EH Jr, Mittra RA, Tewari A. Combined photodynamic therapy with verteporfin and intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization in age related macular degeneration. Retina 2006;26:988-93.  Back to cited text no. 10
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]


This article has been cited by
1 Néovascularisation choroïdienne secondaire à un foyer cicatriciel de toxoplasmose maculaire : à propos d’un cas chez une enfant de 11 ans
A. Smaoui, M. Chassery, C. Mesnard, H. Merle
Journal Français d'Ophtalmologie. 2023;
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
2 Clinical outcomes of intravitreal treatment for ocular toxoplasmosis: systematic review and meta-analysis
Lutiana Amaral de Melo, Mayara Rodrigues Brandão de Paiva, Gabriella Maria Fernandes-Cunha, Armando Silva-Cunha, Marcos Paulo Gomes Mol, Sílvia Ligorio Fialho
Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical. 2023; 56
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
3 Choroidal neo-vascular membrane in a paediatric optic disc pit: A case report
Ahmad Alshammari, Talal Alabduljalil
American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports. 2022; : 101751
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
4 Choroidal neovascularization in 111 eyes of children and adolescents
Pukhraj Rishi, Rekha Priya Kalluri Bharat, Ekta Rishi, Muna Bhende, Jyotirmay Biswas, Arshee Ahmed, Sridharan Sudharshan
International Ophthalmology. 2021;
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
5 Toxoplasma Retinochoroiditis with Chorioretinal Neovascularization in a Young Patient
Nikhila S. Khandwala, Robert A. Hyde, Cagri G. Besirli
Case Reports in Ophthalmology. 2021; 12(1): 259
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
6 Pediatric choroidal neovascularization: Etiology and treatment outcomes with anti-vascular endothelial growth factors
Ratnesh Ranjan, Romit Salian, Shishir Verghese, George J Manayath, Palmeera D’Souza, Anuradha V Kanakath, Parag K Shah, Veerappan R Saravanan, Narendran Venkatapathy
European Journal of Ophthalmology. 2021; : 1120672121
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
7 Optical coherence tomography angiography cyclic remodeling of CNV in patients affected by Best macular dystrophy
Vittoria Murro, Dario Pasquale Mucciolo, Dario Giorgio, Andrea Sodi, Ilaria Passerini, Francesca Cipollini, Gianni Virgili, Fabrizio Giansanti
Ophthalmic Genetics. 2020; 41(5): 440
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
8 Inflammatory choroidal neovascularization in Indian eyes: Etiology, clinical features, and outcomes to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor
Rupak Roy, Kumar Saurabh, Aditya Bansal, Amitabh Kumar, AnindyaKishore Majumdar, SwakshyarSaumya Paul
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2017; 65(4): 295
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
9 Coexisting choroidal neovascularization and active retinochoroiditis—an uncommon presentation of ocular toxoplasmosis
Sharat Hegde, Nidhi Relhan, Avinash Pathengay, Abhishek Bawdekar, Himadri Choudhury, Animesh Jindal, Harry W Flynn
Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection. 2015; 5(1)
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
10 Choroidal neovascularization in 36 eyes of children and adolescents
P Rishi,A Gupta,E Rishi,B J Shah
Eye. 2013; 27(10): 1158
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
11 Ocular Toxoplasmosis
Cheryl A. Arcinue, C. Stephen Foster
Highlights of Ophthalmology. 2013; 41(4ENG): 4
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
12 Toxoplasmosis Ocular
Cheryl A. Arcinue, C. Stephen Foster
Highlights of Ophthalmology. 2013; 41(4ESP): 4
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
13 Toxoplasmosis Ocular
Cheryl A. Arcinue, C. Stephen Foster
Highlights of Vitreoretina. 2013; 6(3): 13
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
14 Photodynamic Therapy Combined with Intravitreal Bevacizumab in a Patient with Choroidal Neovascularization Secondary to Choroidal Osteoma
Jung Hyun Jang,Keong Hwan Kim,Soo Jung Lee,Jung Min Park
Korean Journal of Ophthalmology. 2012; 26(6): 478
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
15 Porphyrin photosensitised processes in the prevention and treatment of water- and vector-borne diseases
# Coppellotti, O., Fabris, C., Soncin, M., Magaraggia, M., Camerin, M., Jori, G., Guidolin, L.
Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2012; 19(6): 808-819
[Pubmed]
16 Photosensitized inactivation of protozoa pathogenic agents of water- and vector- borne diseases
Coppellotti, O., Fabris, C., Soncin, M., Jori, G., Guidolin, L.
Forum on Immunopathological Diseases and Therapeutics. 2011; 2(3): 247-254
[Pubmed]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
    Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
    Access Statistics
    Email Alert *
    Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)  

 
  In this article
Abstract
Case Report
Discussion
References
Article Figures

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed3125    
    Printed83    
    Emailed1    
    PDF Downloaded236    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 16    

Recommend this journal