ABSTRACT
Uveitic macular edema (UME) is a major reason of permanent visual loss. Early treatment is essential for achieving a good visual outcome, but some patients are resistant or nonresponsive to the treatment, which is called refractory UME (RUME). Intravitreous injection of glucocorticoids can improve the intraocular drug concentration and avoid systemic side effects. Immunosuppressive agents have a certain role in improving RUME by inhibiting immune cells through a variety of ways. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and new biological agents also can improve RUME outcome, but their effectiveness and safety need to be confirmed by large scale randomized clinical trials. Vitrectomy can improve RUME outcome but whether peeling of internal limiting membrane is necessary or not is still controversial. Peeling the inner limiting membrane can eliminate the potential incentive for macular edema and remove the barrier. But the process of stripping may injury the retinal neurepithelium. To eliminate edema and protect the visual function, we should analysis the causes of RUME and treat it individually.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the use of a slow-release dexamethasone 0.7-mg intravitreal implant for cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to intermediate uveitis and refractory to systemic steroids. Methods: A retrospective study of the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular inflammation, intraocular pressure (IOP), fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), inflammation, and adverse reactions of five patients (women, mean age of 35 years) with cystoid macular edema treated with a dexamethasone implant. Patients were evaluated in seven visits until the 150th day after the implant. Results: Four patients had bilateral pars planitis and one had bilateral intermediate uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Six dexamethasone devices were implanted, under topical anesthesia (one each in six eyes, five patients). The mean follow-up time was 5 months. The best-corrected visual acuity improved in all eyes that received an implant, with five having improvements of two or more lines. Optical coherence tomography showed thinning of the macula in all eyes treated, and we saw a correlation between the best-corrected visual acuity and retinal thinning. No serious adverse events occurred and no significant increase in intraocular pressure was observed. Conclusions: Slow-release dexamethasone intravitreal implants can effectively treat CME secondary to intermediate uveitis and refractory to systemic steroids. .
RESUMO Objetivos: Avaliar o implante intravítreo de liberação lenta de dexametasona 0,7 mg no tratamento do edema macular cistóide (EMC) secundário à uveíte intermediária refratária a corticosteroides orais. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo da acuidade visual melhor corrigida, inflamação intraocular, pressão intraocular (PIO), retinografia, tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT), inflamação e reações adversas de cinco pacientes (mulheres, idade média 35 anos) com o edema macular cistóide tratado com implante de dexametasona. Pacientes foram avaliados em 7 consultas até o 150o dia pós implante. Rsultados: Quatro pacientes apresentaram parsplanite bilateral e um, uveíte intermediária bilateral associada à artrite idiopática juvenil. Seis implantes foram inseridos sob anestesia tópica. O tempo médio de acompanhamento foi de 5 meses. A acuidade visual melhorou em todos os olhos. A tomografia de coerência óptica mostrou afinamento da mácula em todos os olhos e houve correlação entre a acuidade visual e a retina mais fina. Não ocorreu evento adverso grave. Não ocorreu aumento significativo na pressão intraocular. Conclusão: O implante intravítreo é eficaz no tratamento do edema macular cistóide secundário a uveíte intermediária refratária a esteróides sistêmicos. .