The clinical effectiveness and cost utility of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration

Meads C, Moore D
Record ID 32002000725
English
Authors' objectives:

This systematic review examines the clinical effectiveness and cost utility of photodynamic therapy for the neovascular form of wet age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Authors' results and conclusions: One fully reported RCT with twelve months follow up and two abstracts of RCTs with preliminary data only were retrieved. Two cost studies only were found. The RCT was well conducted with near complete follow up. Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin was given to 402 patients whereas 207 received placebo of 5% dextrose solution. The primary outcome measure results showed less deterioration in visual acuity in the photodynamic therapy group (61.2% vs 46.4% patients lost fewer than 15 letters). The difference in deterioration of visual acuity was both clinically and statistically significant. There was no significant difference in deaths.
Authors' recommendations: More accurate and longer term effectiveness and cost information is required in order to reduce the uncertainty in the above estimates.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-mds/haps/projects/WMHTAC/REPreports/2001/Age_related_Macular_Degeneration.pdf
Year Published: 2001
URL for published report: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/mds/projects/HaPS/PHEB/WMHTAC/REP/reports-list.aspx
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England
MeSH Terms
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Macular Degeneration
  • Photochemotherapy
Contact
Organisation Name: West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration
Contact Address: Elaena Donald-Lopez, West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT Tel: +44 121 414 7450; Fax: +44 121 414 7878
Contact Name: louise.a.taylor@bham.ac.uk
Contact Email: louise.a.taylor@bham.ac.uk
Copyright: University of Birmingham
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.