Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in elderly Chinese patients

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the frequency and clinical features of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in a consecutive series of elderly Chinese patients.

Methods: A restrospective analysis of 166 consecutive patients 50 years or older with diagnosis of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was conducted. Color fundus photographs were taken and fluorescein and indocyanine green (ICG) angiography were performed in all patients.

Results: Of the 166 patients, 37 patients (22.3%) initially suspected of having exudative AMD were ultimately diagnosed as having PCV. Twenty-seven men (73.0%) were affected, 32 patients (86.5%) were unilaterally involved. Of 42 eyes with PCV, 27 eyes (64.3%) demonstrated polypoidal dilations with branching vascular network, and the other 15 eyes (35.7%) showed scattered polypoidal dilations without identifiable continuous branching vascular network on ICG angiography. The predominant location for these lesions was at the macular region in 26 eyes (61.9%), the temporal vascular arcade in 9 eyes (21.4%), the peripapillary area in 6 eyes (14.3%), and the midperiphery in 1 eye (2.4%).

Conclusions: PCV is a common disease in elderly Chinese patients. In our study group PCV mainly affected men and was mostly unilateral. Most of the lesions were located in the macular region and temporal vascular arcade.