title: The duration of effect of centrifuge concentrated intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the duration of activity for intravitreal triamcinolone injected with a new technique using centrifuge concentration (Centrifuge concentrated IntraVitreal Triamcinolone, C-IVT).
  
  
  METHODS
  All injections were performed by a single surgeon (M.D.O.) using a 30-gauge needle. A vial of Triesence (triamcinolone; Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX) was drawn into a 1-mL syringe and the plunger cut off. The contents were spun in a centrifuge, and a second plunger was placed. Records of all patients receiving C-IVT with 0.05 mL or 0.1 mL from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009, were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four injections from 69 eyes of 57 patients were included. Sixty-nine injections from 54 eyes of 44 patients received 0.05 mL of C-IVT, whereas 15 injections from 15 eyes of 13 patients received 0.1 mL of C-IVT. Triamcinolone acetonide was still visualized in the vitreous on an average of 5.0 ± 2.4 months (median 5 months) after 0.05 mL of C-IVT and 8.3 ± 4.0 months (median 8 months) after 0.1 mL of C-IVT during follow-up visits. The longest duration recorded was 14 months for the 0.05-mL group and 18 months for the 0.l-mL group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The C-IVT results in a long duration of effect that seems to be greater than previously published techniques. It may be considered for patients requiring chronic steroid therapy, in which the benefits of long-term intravitreal steroids are believed to outweigh their risk.
authors.affiliation: Retina Consultants of Michigan, Southfield, Michigan 48323, USA. obermike@gmail.com
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ober
authors.forename: Sevak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valijan
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D002498:Centrifugation; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D031300:Retinal Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide