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SENSORY ORGANS › OPHTHALMOLOGICALS › OCULAR VASCULAR DISORDER AGENTS › Antineovascularisation agents
verteporfin
S01LA01
Forms & Strengths
- Lyophilized powder for reconstitution: 15 mg in a single-use vial
Adult Dosing
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT): 6 mg/m² body surface area administered intravenously as an infusion over 10 minutes in 30 mL of 5% Dextrose injection
- Activate laser light application (689 nm) 15 minutes after the start of the infusion
Pediatric Dosing
- Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established
Indications
- Treatment of patients with predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to age-related macular degeneration
- Pathologic myopia
- Presumed ocular histoplasmosis
Mechanism of Action
- Benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (verteporfin) is activated by non-thermal red light (689 nm)
- Light activation generates singlet oxygen and reactive oxygen radicals, causing localized vascular endothelium damage, thrombosis, and closure of choroidal neovascular vessels
Contraindications
- Porphyria
- Known hypersensitivity to verteporfin or any component of the formulation
- Patients with severe hepatic impairment
Adverse Reactions
- Injection site reactions (pain, edema, inflammation, extravasation)
- Visual disturbances (blurred vision, decreased visual acuity, visual field defects)
- Photosensitivity reactions
- Systemic symptoms (nausea, fatigue, dizziness, asthenia, infusion-related back pain)
Drug Interactions
- Concurrent use with other photosensitizing agents (e.g., tetracyclines, sulfonamides, phenothiazines, sulfonylureas, thiazide diuretics) increases the risk of additive photosensitivity reactions
- Vasodilator drugs, calcium channel blockers, and beta-blockers may alter choroidal perfusion and potentially affect verteporfin efficacy or uptake
Curated Content: Needs Vetting Before Put to Clinical Use