Serum levels of triamcinolone acetonide after intravitreal injection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate serum levels of triamcinolone acetonide after intravitreal high-dose injection.


METHODS
Prospective, interventional case series study.


METHODS
For 20 consecutive patients, venous blood samples were taken before and 13 +/- 19 days (range 4 to 92) after an intravitreal injection of 20 to 25 mg triamcinolone acetonide as treatment of edematous macular diseases.


RESULTS
Serum levels of triamcinolone acetonide did not differ significantly (P =.174; t test for paired matches) preoperatively (0 microg/l) and postoperatively (0.065 microg/l +/- 0.21 microg/l). In 18 eyes (90%), triamcinolone acetonide could not be detected in serum samples. For two patients (10%), serum samples taken 5 days and 7 days after the injection, respectively, contained 0.5 microg/l triamcinolone acetonide and 0.8 microg/l triamcinolone acetonide, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
After an intravitreal high-dose injection of 20 to 25 mg triamcinolone acetonide, triamcinolone acetonide is not, or only marginally, detectable in serum samples obtained within 4 to 92 days after the injection.
Degenring
Robert F
RF
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty for Clinical Medicine Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. robert.degenring@augen.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Jonas
Jost B
JB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000187:drug effects
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide