Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in Asians

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Chee Wai Wong²  Tien Y. Wong²  Chui Ming Gemmy Cheung²  Lindsay Farrer¹ 

[1] Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, 168751 Singapore, Singapore;;Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, 168751 Singapore, Singapore; E-Mails:

关键词: polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy;    Asians;    epidemiology;    risk factors;    genetics;    photodynamic therapy;    anti vascular endothelial growth factor;   

DOI  :  10.3390/jcm4050782

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) in Asians has been suggested to differ from their Western counterparts in terms of epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and treatment. In particular, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) appears to be the predominant subtype of exudative AMD in Asian populations, in contrast to choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD (CNV-AMD) in Western populations. Epidemiological data on PCV has been largely limited to hospital-based studies and there are currently no data on the incidence of PCV. Similarities and differences in risk factor profile between PCV and CNV-AMD point to some shared pathogenic mechanisms but also differential underlying mechanisms leading to the development of each phenotype. Serum biomarkers such as CRP, homocysteine and matrix metalloproteinases suggest underlying inflammation, atherosclerosis and deranged extracellular matrix metabolism as possible pathogenic mechanisms. In addition, recent advances in genome sequencing have revealed differences in genetic determinants of each subtype. While the standard of care for CNV-AMD is anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been the mainstay of treatment for PCV, although long-term visual prognosis remains unsatisfactory. The optimal treatment for PCV requires further clarification, particularly with different types of anti-VEGF agents and possible benefits of reduced fluence PDT.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.