Rebound of cystoid macular edema with continued use of acetazolamide in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the presence of a rebound effect with the use of acetazolamide for the treatment of cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).


METHODS
Six patients with RP and cystic-appearing lesions in the macula demonstrated by fluorescein angiography and/or optical coherence tomography (OCT) were treated with an oral form of carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (acetazolamide [500 mg]) as a single daily dose.


RESULTS
All patients, treated with acetazolamide for a period of 3 weeks to 5 weeks, had initial improvement of macular edema demonstrated by OCT. However, extended use of acetazolamide, for at least 8 weeks to 12 weeks, resulted in recurrence (rebound) of CME in 3 of the 6 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from our study suggest that rebound of CME with the continued use of acetazolamide observed by OCT may occur more frequently than previously appreciated.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
Marsha A
MA
Apushkin
Gerald A
GA
Fishman
Sandeep
S
Grover
Mark J
MJ
Janowicz
D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000150:complications*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity
D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D000086:Acetazolamide