LOC387715/HTRA1 variants and the response to combined photodynamic therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

PURPOSE: To investigate whether there was an association with the LOC387715/HTRA1 variants and a response to combined photodynamic therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. METHODS: Combined photodynamic therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab was repeated every 3 months until the disappearance of angiographic signs in the active lesions of 51 eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy who were followed-up for at least 12 months. Patients were genotyped for LOC387715 and HTRA1 polymorphisms. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference in the baseline best-corrected visual acuity and fluorescein angiography-guided greatest linear dimension among the 3 genotypes in both genes, there was a significant difference at 12 months (P < 0.05, respectively). For LOC387715, the TT genotype showed greater fluorescein angiography-guided greatest linear dimension than the TG and GG genotypes (P = 0.035 and 0.006, respectively). The best-corrected visual acuity of the GG genotype was better than the TT and TG (P = 0.029 and 0.045, respectively). For HTRA1, the AA genotype showed greater fluorescein angiography-guided greatest linear dimension than AG and GG (P = 0.042 and 0.017, respectively). The best-corrected visual acuity of GG genotype was better than AA and AG (P = 0.018 and 0.040, respectively). CONCLUSION: After combined photodynamic therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab treatment, LOC387715 TT and HTRA1 AA genotype had poorer outcomes at 12 months, suggesting a pharmacogenetic relationship.