The effect of subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection for diabetic macular edema on retinal and choroidal circulation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate changes in retinal and choroidal circulation after subtenon triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection for diabetic macular edema.


METHODS
Prospective interventional case series.


METHODS
Thirteen eyes of 13 patients with diabetic macular edema were studied. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiograms were performed at three periods: before the injection and 1 week and 6 months after subtenon injection of TA (40 mg). Retinal arteriovenous passage time (as an indicator of retinal circulation) and choroidal tau (as an indicator of early filling velocity of choroid) were obtained with image analysis software.


RESULTS
Choroidal tau values before and 1 week after subtenon TA injection were, respectively, 3.2 +/- 0.4 and 4.0 +/- 0.7 seconds, which showed a significant delay (P = .01, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The delayed choroidal tau values returned to pretreatment level at 6 months after TA injection. In contrast, the arteriovenous passage time remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Subtenon TA injection transiently influences choroidal blood flow.
Mawatari
Yuki
Y
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
Koga
Tomoyo
T
Inumaru
Junko
J
Hirata
Akira
A
Fukushima
Mikiko
M
Tanihara
Hidenobu
H
D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D003238:Connective Tissue; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D007267:Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D007208:Indocyanine Green