Combined therapy and antivascular endothelial growth factor monotherapies for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: A protocol for the systematic review and network meta-analysis of efficacy and safety

BACKGROUND: Different antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monotherapy regimens and photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with anti-VEGF therapy are available for patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). However, the comparative efficacy and safety of different anti-VEGF monotherapy regimens and combined therapy with PDT and anti-VEGF remains unknown. The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF monotherapies and combined therapy in patients with PCV. METHODS: We will systematically search PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library for eligible studies. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias in a randomized trial and the ROBINS-I tool will be used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. The primary outcome is the mean change in best corrected visual acuity from baseline. The secondary outcomes are the mean change in central retinal thickness from baseline and the number of serious adverse events. RESULTS: The result will generate a comprehensive suggestion for the treatment of PCV. CONCLUSION: The results of the network meta-analysis will be submitted in a peer-reviewed journal for publication. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study does not involve human subjects and requires no ethical approval or patient consent. The results of the network meta-analysis will be submitted in a peer-reviewed journal for publication and generate a comprehensive suggestion for the treatment of PCV.