Verteporfin

Verteporfin (trade name Visudyne), a benzoporphyrin derivative, is a medication used as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy to eliminate the abnormal blood vessels in the eye associated with conditions such as the wet form of macular degeneration. Verteporfin accumulates in these abnormal blood vessels and, when stimulated by nonthermal red light with a wavelength of 689 nm[1] in the presence of oxygen, produces highly reactive short-lived singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen radicals, resulting in local damage to the endothelium and blockage of the vessels.[2][3]

Verteporfin
Clinical data
Trade namesVisudyne
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa607060
License data
Routes of
administration		Intravenous
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC41H42N4O8
Molar mass718.807 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Verteporfin is also used off-label for the treatment of central serous retinopathy.[4]

Administration

Verteporfin is given intravenously, 15 minutes before laser treatment.[2]

Contraindications

Porphyria.[2]

Side effects

Most common side effects are blurred vision, headache, and local effects at the injection site. Also, photosensitivity; it is strictly advised to avoid exposure to sunlight and unscreened lighting until 48 hours after verteporfin administration.[2]

Interactions

Verteporfin is known to interact with the herbal remedy feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), the latter of which seems to act as an antagonist to verteporfin for unknown reasons. Taking the two substances simultaneously is inadvisable.[5]

Verteporfin has no influence on the liver enzyme CYP3A4, which metabolises many pharmaceutical drugs.[2]

References
  1. "Visudyne package insert" (PDF).
  2. Verteporfin Monograph
  3. Scott LJ, Goa KL (February 2000). "Verteporfin". Drugs & Aging. 16 (2): 139–46, discussion 147-8. doi:10.2165/00002512-200016020-00005. PMID 10755329.
  4. Karim SP, Adelman RA (2013). "Profile of verteporfin and its potential for the treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy". Clinical Ophthalmology. 7: 1867–75. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S32177. PMC 3788817. PMID 24092965.
  5. "Feverfew and Verteporfin Interactions". Drugs.com. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
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