Intravitreal Ranibizumab in the Treatment of Butterfly-Shaped Pattern Dystrophy Associated with Choroidal Neovascularization: A Case Report

PURPOSE To present and document the effectiveness of intravitreal ranibizumab in the treatment of patients with choroidal neovascularization due to butterfly-shaped pattern dystrophy (PD) of the macula. METHODS Three intravitreal ranibizumab injections of 0.5 mg/0.05 ml in monthly intervals were given to a patient with a previously diagnosed butterfly-shaped PD who subsequently developed subfoveal choroidal neovascularization on the right eye. The patient had previously received a combination of verteporfin/photodynamic therapy for a juxtafoveal choroidal neovascular membrane on the left eye. RESULTS At the end of the treatment course, there was significant improvement of the patient's vision and the appearance of the macula on optic coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography. Best-corrected visual acuity improved from 6/12 to 6/6 and retinal thickness at the macula decreased from 323 to 247 μm. No subretinal fluid remained. The patient is clinically stable over a 12-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Intravitreal ranibizumab seems to be an effective and safe option for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in patients with butterfly-shaped PD.