Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in patients aged less than 50 years: characteristics and 6-month treatment outcome

To investigate the characteristics and 6-month treatment outcome of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in patients aged <50 years.

This retrospective study included 22 eyes from 22 patients who were <50 years old and had been diagnosed with treatment naïve PCV. Analyses of treatment outcome were performed in eyes treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. Eyes that exhibited submacular hemorrhage of ≥1 disc diameter and involving the fovea were included in the hemorrhage group. The remaining eyes were included in the no-hemorrhage group. The baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was compared with that at 6 months within each group.

The mean age of the 22 patients was 46.5 ± 1.8 (range, 43-49) years. Submacular hemorrhage was noted in ten eyes (45.5 %). The presence of drusen was noted in one eye and pseudodrusen was not noted in any of the eyes included. Treatment outcome was analyzed in 18 eyes. A mean number of 2.9 ± 0.5 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections were administered during the 6-month follow-up period. In the no-hemorrhage group (n = 10), the BCVA at diagnosis and at 6 months was 0.55 ± 0.32 and 0.35 ± 0.22 respectively (P = 0.011). In the hemorrhage group (n = 8), the values were 0.99 ± 0.45 and 0.74 ± 0.63 respectively (P = 0.128).

A relatively high proportion of young PCV patients exhibited submacular hemorrhage at initial presentation. In those without submacular hemorrhage, intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy was found to be beneficial.