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.
Apushkin
Marsha A
MA
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
Fishman
Gerald A
GA
Grover
Sandeep
S
Janowicz
Mark J
MJ
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