Retinal pigment epithelial tear following intravitreal pegaptanib sodium.
OBJECTIVE
To report two cases of a retinal pigment epithelial tear after intravitreal injection of pegaptanib sodium. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this finding after intraocular antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy.


METHODS
Observational case reports.


METHODS
Two patients presented with occult choroidal neovascularization and associated serous pigment epithelial detachment that was a result of age-related macular degeneration. Both patients were treated with an intravitreal injection of pegaptanib sodium.


RESULTS
One patient developed a retinal pigment epithelium tear one week after the intravitreal injection. The second patient developed a retinal pigment epithelium tear eight weeks after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Although these cases may represent natural history, there should be a high index of suspicion for retinal pigment epithelium tears in patients who report significant visual deterioration after intravitreal injection of pegaptanib sodium. Further studies are needed to determine whether angiographic subtypes of choroidal neovascular membranes are more susceptible to developing retinal pigment epithelium tears after treatment with antivascular endothelial growth factor agents.
Barnes Retina Institute, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
Mandeep Singh
MS
Dhalla
Kevin J
KJ
Blinder
Asheesh
A
Tewari
Seenu M
SM
Hariprasad
Rajendra S
RS
Apte
D000368:Aged; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; C495058:pegaptanib; D007208:Indocyanine Green