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Brief Summary

GUIDELINE TITLE

Guidance on the use of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCE(S)

  • National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Guidance on the use of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration. London (UK): National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE); 2003 Sep. 26 p. (Technology appraisal; no. 68).

GUIDELINE STATUS

This is the current release of the guideline.

BRIEF SUMMARY CONTENT

 
RECOMMENDATIONS
 EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS
 IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND AVAILABILITY
 DISCLAIMER

 Go to the Complete Summary

RECOMMENDATIONS

MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is recommended for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration for individuals who have a confirmed diagnosis of classic with no occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) (that is, whose lesions are composed of classic CNV with no evidence of an occult component) and best-corrected visual acuity 6/60 or better. PDT should be carried out only by retinal specialists with expertise in the use of this technology.
  • PDT is not recommended for the treatment of people with predominantly classic subfoveal CNV (that is, 50% or more of the entire area of the lesion is classic CNV but some occult CNV is present) associated with wet age-related macular degeneration, except as part of ongoing or new clinical studies that are designed to generate robust and relevant outcome data, including data on optimum treatment regimens, long-term outcomes, quality of life, and costs.
  • The use of PDT in occult CNV associated with wet age-related macular degeneration was not considered because the photosensitising agent (verteporfin) was not licensed for this indication when this appraisal began. No recommendation is made with regard to the use of this technology in people with this form of the condition.
  • Patients currently receiving treatment with PDT could experience loss of well-being if their treatment is discontinued at a time they did not anticipate. Because of this, all National Health Service (NHS) patients who have begun a course of treatment with PDT at the date of publication of this guidance should have the option of continuing to receive treatment until their clinical condition indicates that it is appropriate to stop.

CLINICAL ALGORITHM(S)

None provided

EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS

TYPE OF EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS

The type of evidence supporting the recommendations is not specifically stated.

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND AVAILABILITY

BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCE(S)

  • National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Guidance on the use of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration. London (UK): National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE); 2003 Sep. 26 p. (Technology appraisal; no. 68).

ADAPTATION

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

DATE RELEASED

2003 Sep

GUIDELINE DEVELOPER(S)

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - National Government Agency [Non-U.S.]

SOURCE(S) OF FUNDING

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

GUIDELINE COMMITTEE

Appraisal Committee

COMPOSITION OF GROUP THAT AUTHORED THE GUIDELINE

Committee Members: Dr Jane Adam, Radiologist, St George's Hospital, London; Dr Sunil Angris, General Practitioner, Waterhouses Medical Practice, Staffordshire; Dr Darren Ashcroft, Senior Clinical Lecturer, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester; Professor David Barnett (Chair) Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Leicester; Professor Carol Black (up to June 2002) Consultant Physician, Royal Free Hospital & University College London; Professor John Brazier, Health Economist, University of Sheffield; Professor John Cairns, Professor of Health Economics, Health Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen; Professor Mike Campbell, Statistician, Institute of General Practice & Primary Care, Sheffield; Dr Peter I Clark, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, Wirral, Merseyside; Dr Mike Davies, Consultant Physician, University Department of Medicine & Metabolism, Manchester Royal Infirmary; Professor Cam Donaldson, PPP Foundation Professor of Health Economics, School of Population and Health Sciences & Business School, Business School -- Economics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne; Professor Jack Dowie, Health Economist, London School of Hygiene; Dr Paul Ewings, Statistician, Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust, Taunton; Ms Sally Gooch, Director of Nursing, Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford; Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Health Care, University College London; Miss Linda Hands, Clinical Reader in Surgery, University of Oxford; Ms Ruth Lesirge, Lay Representative, previously Director, Mental Health Foundation, London; Dr George Levvy, Lay Representative, Chief Executive, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Northampton; Dr Gill Morgan, Chief Executive, NHS Confederation, London; Professor Miranda Mugford (up to November 2002) Health Economist, University of East Anglia, Norwich; Ms Siân Richards (up to December 2002) Chief Executive, Cardiff Local Health Board;  Professor Philip Routledge, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Wales, Cardiff; Dr Rhiannon Rowsell, (up to December 2002) Medical & Regulatory Affairs, Director, AstraZeneca UK Ltd, Luton; Dr Stephen Saltissi, Consultant Cardiologist, Royal Liverpool University Hospital; Mr Miles Scott, Chief Executive, Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust; Professor Andrew Stevens (Vice-Chair) Professor of Public Health, University of Birmingham; Professor Ray Tallis (up to January 2003) Consultant Physician, Hope Hospital, Salford; Professor Mary Watkins, Professor of Nursing, University of Plymouth; Dr Norman Waugh, Department of Public Health, University of Aberdeen

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES/CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Committee members are asked to declare any interests in the technology to be appraised. If it is considered there is a conflict of interest, the member is excluded from participating further in that appraisal.

GUIDELINE STATUS

This is the current release of the guideline.

GUIDELINE AVAILABILITY

AVAILABILITY OF COMPANION DOCUMENTS

The following are available:

Print copies: Available from the National Health Service (NHS) Response Line 0870 1555 455. ref: N0304. 11 Strand, London, WC2N 5HR.

Additionally, Audit Criteria can be found in Appendix C of the original guideline document.

PATIENT RESOURCES

The following is available:

  • The use of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration. Understanding NICE guidance -- information for people with age-related macular degeneration, their families and carers, and the public. London (UK): National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE); 2003 Sep. 14 p. (Technology appraisal 68).

Electronic copies: Available in Portable Document Format (PDF) from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Web site.

Print copies: Available from the Department of Health Publications Order Line 0870 1555 455. ref: N0305. 11 Strand, London, WC2N 5HR.

Please note: This patient information is intended to provide health professionals with information to share with their patients to help them better understand their health and their diagnosed disorders. By providing access to this patient information, it is not the intention of NGC to provide specific medical advice for particular patients. Rather we urge patients and their representatives to review this material and then to consult with a licensed health professional for evaluation of treatment options suitable for them as well as for diagnosis and answers to their personal medical questions. This patient information has been derived and prepared from a guideline for health care professionals included on NGC by the authors or publishers of that original guideline. The patient information is not reviewed by NGC to establish whether or not it accurately reflects the original guideline's content.

NGC STATUS

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

This NGC summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions.

DISCLAIMER

NGC DISCLAIMER

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Readers with questions regarding guideline content are directed to contact the guideline developer.


 

 

   
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