Cytomegalovirus retinitis after treatment with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in an immunocompetent patient.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis following intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) in an immunocompetent patient.


METHODS
A 77-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus developed retinal whitening with a vasculitis 6 weeks after receiving IVTA in the left eye. A vitreous biopsy was performed.


RESULTS
Polymerase chain reaction was positive for CMV (419,000 copies/mL). A complete medical evaluation, including a negative test for human immunodeficiency virus, showed no systemic evidence of immunosuppression except for a highly elevated hemoglobin A1C level.


CONCLUSIONS
CMV retinitis may be a rare complication of IVTA, possibly due to local ocular immunosuppression from the steroid medication. Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus may have contributed to this development.
From the Retina Service, Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jason
J
Hsu
Eric
E
Chen
James F
JF
Vander