Acute respiratory distress due to Verteporfin infusion for photodynamic therapy

FOSSARELLO, MAURIZIO;PEIRETTI, ENRICO

2006-01-01

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Abstract

Most observed adverse events after photodynamic therapy (PDT) are mild or moderate and transient.1 In our series of 230 consecutive patients (123 female, 107 male) who were treated in our clinic with PDT for macular choroidal neovascularization related to age-related macular degeneration (187 patients) and pathologic myopia (43 patients), we observed 1 case of a severe reaction to verteporfin. A 50-year-old woman with a history of food allergy was referred to us for treatment with PDT of a myopic choroidal neovascular membrane. Eight minutes after intravenous verteporfin infusion, the patient reported a feeling of warmness departing from her neck and extending to the ears. In addition, the patient experienced a throbbing sensation in her throat, causing her to cough for about 1 minute without discharge. The infusion of verteporfin was immediately stopped. The patient's face appeared red and sweaty while she was trying to swallow and breathe with energy.