title: Intravitreal Ranibizumab for Stage IV Proliferative Sickle Cell Retinopathy: A First Case Report.
abstract: Purpose. To present the case of a 27-year-old male patient with stage IV proliferative sickle cell retinopathy, treated with one intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, showing regression of the neovascularization and no recurrence at the 9-month follow-up. Methods. A 27-year-old male patient presented with blurred vision and floaters in the right eye since three days. His best corrected visual acuity was 6/18. Ophthalmological examination and fluorescein angiography revealed proliferative sickle cell retinopathy stage IV with vitreous hemorrhage and sea fan neovascularization, as well as ischemic areas at the temporal periphery. Results. The patient was treated with one intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, presenting improvement in the visual acuity from 6/18 to 6/6, resolution of vitreous hemorrhage, and regression of the neovascularization. Additionally, he underwent scatter laser photocoagulation at the ischemic areas. At the 9-month follow-up there was no recurrence, while no adverse effects were noticed. Conclusions. Intravitreal ranibizumab may be a useful adjunct to laser photocoagulation in the management of proliferative sickle cell retinopathy and may permit some patients to avoid pars plana vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmiatrion Athinon, 26 Eleftheriou Venizelou Street, 10672 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Mitropoulos
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmiatrion Athinon, 26 Eleftheriou Venizelou Street, 10672 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Irini P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Chatziralli
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmiatrion Athinon, 26 Eleftheriou Venizelou Street, 10672 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efstratios A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Parikakis
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmiatrion Athinon, 26 Eleftheriou Venizelou Street, 10672 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasileios G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Peponis
authors.affiliation: Eye CU Center, 8 Naiadon Street, 11634 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Amariotakis
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Ophthalmology, University of Athens, G. Gennimatas Hospital, 154 Mesogeion Street, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Marilita M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Moschos