Baseline polyp size as a potential predictive factor for recurrence of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the predictive factors for recurrence of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

METHODS: The medical records of 78 consecutive patients (78 eyes) with treatment-na?ve PCV who responded to first-line treatment and completed at least a 3-year follow-up after the first remission were retrospectively analyzed. In this comparative cohort study, baseline characteristics were compared between the patients who had at least one recurrence (the recurrence group) and those without recurrence (the non-recurrence group) during at least 3-year follow-up periods. In addition, possible predictive factors for recurrence of PCV were investigated by using Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS: Within 3 years of the first remission, 50 eyes (64 %) showed at least one recurrence (mean 1.5; 1 to ∼2 times). There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the recurrence group and the non-recurrence group. However, the largest polyp diameter was significantly different: the mean largest polyp diameter (524?±?340 μm) was significantly larger in the recurrence group compared to that of the non-recurrence group (352?±?173 μm; P?=?0.038). Cox regression analysis showed that the largest polyp diameter at baseline significantly correlated with recurrence of PCV (B?=?1.470, P?=?0.015).

CONCLUSIONS: The largest polyp diameter at baseline may be predictive for PCV recurrence, as it was significantly larger in patients who had at least one recurrence.