Thrombocytopenia after Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection for Macular Edema in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of thrombocytopenia after intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVBI) in a patient with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). CASE SUMMARY: A 52-year-old female presented to our clinic with complaints of visual disturbance in her right eye for 2 months. She was receiving hemodialysis therapy 3 times a week for 4 years due to chronic renal failure. Unilateral macular edema secondary to BRVO was observed on fundus examination and was confirmed with optical coherence tomography (OCT). The first IVBI was performed, and an additional injection was given 4 weeks later. Four weeks after the second injection, thrombocytopenia was present. The patient was followed up in our clinic without IVBI for 8 weeks and the platelet count recovered. Thrombocytopenia was reconfirmed after 2 additional monthly injections. After she revisited our clinic without IVBI for 8 weeks, the platelet count recovered without any treatment. CONCLUSIONS: When a patient presents with thrombocytopenia after IVBI with macular edema in BRVO, thrombocytopenia due to IVBI should be considered as a possible diagnosis.