The spectrum of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Caucasians: clinical characteristics and proposal of a classification

Elon H. C. van Dijk, Danial Mohabati, Simona Veselinovic, Wing H. Chung, Greet Dijkman, Camiel J. F. Boon

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14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), also known as aneurysmal type 1 (sub-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)) neovascularization, in Caucasian patients. Methods: Single-centre study in 66 Caucasian patients with a diagnosis of PCV based on optical coherence tomography scan and indocyanine green angiography. Clinical characteristics and multimodal imaging were collected and assessed by an experienced retina specialist. Results: This study involved 74 eyes of 66 patients with PCV, with a mean age at onset of 73 years and a female preponderance of 66%. The mean number of polypoidal lesions per eye was 1 (range: 1–5 lesions), out of which 75% was located in the macula and 19% in the peripapillary region. Of the 74 eyes, 37 eyes (50%) had PCV associated with a drusenoidal neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) phenotype (PCV-AMD) and 18 eyes (24%) had PCV associated with non-polypoidal type 1 choroidal neovascularization/branching vascular network (PCV-BVN) without signs of drusenoidal AMD, while 19 eyes (26%) had idiopathic, isolated PCV (iPCV). The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness measured in 22 patients was 245 μm (range: 71–420 μm). In 51% of patients, the initially performed therapy showed good anatomical recovery (resolution of intra- and subretinal fluid). Conclusions: A spectrum of PCV (aneurysmal type 1/sub-RPE neovascularization) can be seen in Caucasian patients. PCV associated with a drusenoidal neovascular AMD phenotype in Caucasians is phenotypically and presumably pathophysiologically more associated with neovascular AMD (PCV-AMD: type A PCV). However, this may not be the case for patients with PCV with non-polypoidal type 1 choroidal neovascularization or BVN and no signs of drusenoidal AMD (PCV-BVN: type B PCV), and for patients with idiopathic PCV without associated drusen or BVN (iPCV; type C PCV). Most patients have a thin choroid, even when drusen are absent. For the entire patient group, a moderate anatomical recovery was observed after treatment.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)351-361
Number of pages11
JournalGraefe s archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie
Volume259
Issue number2
Early online date2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2021

Keywords

  • Aneurysmal type 1 neovascularization
  • Caucasians
  • Classification
  • Clinical characteristics
  • Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy
  • Sub-retinal pigment epithelium neovascularization

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