Intravitreal aflibercept (Eylea) injection for cystoid macular edema secondary to retinitis pigmentosa - a first case report and short review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Cystoid macular edema (CME) in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has been managed in several ways as documented in the literature, with little success, though. The aim of our study was to report for the first time in literature the use of aflibercept in a patient with RP and CME.


METHODS
A 52-year-old man presented for blurred vision in his right eye. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 3/10 in his right eye and 7/10 in his left eye. Physical examination and appropriate laboratory tests lead to the diagnosis of bilateral RP with CME in the right eye. Retinal thickness in the foveal area of the right eye was 631 μm. The patient was treated with a single intravitreal injection of 0.05 ml/0.5 mg aflibercept. One month later, BCVA of the right eye increased to 4/10, while BCVA of the left eye was unchanged. RT in the right eye decreased to 129 μm. Multifocal electroretinogram response did not improve, yet peaks were better-shaped and no areas of eccentral vision were present. Three and six months after injection, these improvements were maintained.


CONCLUSIONS
This first-reported case indicates that intravitreal aflibercept injection for addressing CME in RP seems to be an effective treatment.
Department of Ophthalmology, Electrophysiology Laboratory, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. giannis.a.moustafa@gmail.com.
Giannis-Aimant
GA
Moustafa
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Athens, Greece, 6 Ikarias Street, 14578, Ekali, Attica, Greece. moschosmarilita@yahoo.fr.
Marilita M
MM
Moschos
D004596:Electroretinography; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology
D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C533178:aflibercept; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor