Safety of intravitreal injections in patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety of intravitreal Macugen (OSI/Eyetech, New York, New York, USA) injections among patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
A search was conducted for patients treated with intravitreal Macugen for choroidal neovascularization resulting from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Inclusion criteria included patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation in whom therapy was maintained.


RESULTS
The review identified 31 patients (32 eyes) who underwent 102 intravitreal Macugen injections while receiving warfarin anticoagulation. The mean and median number of Macugen injections per patient was three. No intraoperative or immediate postoperative hemorrhagic complications were noted. One patient experienced an acute submacular hemorrhage 35 days after the third Macugen injection. There were no other hemorrhagic events among the remaining patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The retrospective chart review of patients treated with intravitreal Macugen for choroidal neovascularization resulting from AMD while receiving warfarin therapy suggests that patients may undergo intravitreal injections safely without cessation of anticoagulation therapy.
Dayani
Pouya N
PN
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
Siddiqi
Omar K
OK
Holekamp
Nancy M
NM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068579:Celecoxib; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005130:Eye Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014822:Vitreous Body; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000925:Anticoagulants; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C495058:pegaptanib; D014859:Warfarin; D000068579:Celecoxib; D001241:Aspirin