Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39447560›Full record

ArticleOphthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde2025

Dealing with the Verteporfin Shortage: Treatment Options and Outcomes in Patients with Chronic and Non-Resolving Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

Femke M van den Tillaart, Franca Hartgers, Carel B Hoyng, Suzanne Yzer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Femke M van den TillaartDepartment of Ophthalmology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, femke.vandentillaart@radboudumc.nl.
Franca HartgersDepartment of Ophthalmology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Carel B HoyngDepartment of Ophthalmology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Suzanne YzerDepartment of Ophthalmology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHalf-dose photodynamic therapy (HD-PDT) with verteporfin is the mainstay treatment in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Since 2021, there is a worldwide shortage of verteporfin. This called for adjustments of daily practice. Here, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the adapted treatment methods and outcomes in patients with non-resolving and chronic CSC.

methodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we compared patients referred in the year before the verteporfin shortage (group 1), with patients referred in the first year of verteporfin shortage (group 2). Treatment strategies, subretinal fluid (SRF) resolution, and visual acuity (VA) were evaluated during a follow-up period of at least 4 months.

resultsEighty-five eyes of 79 patients were analyzed, 36 eyes in group 1 and 49 in group 2. The treatment strategy at the first visit shifted from HD-PDT as the most performed treatment in group 1 to a more patient-tailored approach in group 2, with a wait-and-see policy in most cases. During follow-up, HD-PDT was performed significantly less in group 2 (89% vs. 45%; p < 0.001). At a mean follow-up time of 6.2 months, SRF resolved in 61% of the eyes in group 1 and in 55% in group 2 (p = 0.821). No difference in VA was observed between the groups at follow-up (p = 0.637).

conclusionDuring the shortage of verteporfin, a different treatment strategy was applied, with HD-PDT being performed less frequently. By implementing a more patient-tailored approach, the VA and the resolution rate of SRF remained similar to the year before the shortage.

introductionHalf-dose photodynamic therapy (HD-PDT) with verteporfin is the mainstay treatment in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Since 2021, there is a worldwide shortage of verteporfin. This called for adjustments of daily practice. Here, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the adapted treatment methods and outcomes in patients with non-resolving and chronic CSC.

methodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we compared patients referred in the year before the verteporfin shortage (group 1), with patients referred in the first year of verteporfin shortage (group 2). Treatment strategies, subretinal fluid (SRF) resolution, and visual acuity (VA) were evaluated during a follow-up period of at least 4 months.

resultsEighty-five eyes of 79 patients were analyzed, 36 eyes in group 1 and 49 in group 2. The treatment strategy at the first visit shifted from HD-PDT as the most performed treatment in group 1 to a more patient-tailored approach in group 2, with a wait-and-see policy in most cases. During follow-up, HD-PDT was performed significantly less in group 2 (89% vs. 45%; p < 0.001). At a mean follow-up time of 6.2 months, SRF resolved in 61% of the eyes in group 1 and in 55% in group 2 (p = 0.821). No difference in VA was observed between the groups at follow-up (p = 0.637).

conclusionDuring the shortage of verteporfin, a different treatment strategy was applied, with HD-PDT being performed less frequently. By implementing a more patient-tailored approach, the VA and the resolution rate of SRF remained similar to the year before the shortage.

Indexed as

Central Serous ChorioretinopathyPhotochemotherapyVerteporfinVisual AcuityAdultAgedChronic DiseaseFemaleFluorescein AngiographyFollow-Up StudiesFundus OculiHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhotosensitizing AgentsRetrospective StudiesPhotosensitizing AgentsVerteporfinCentral serous chorioretinopathyPhotodynamic therapyVerteporfinWait-and-see

Identifiers

PMID39447560
PMCPMC11901414

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.