title: Acute retinal necrosis following intravitreal dexamethasone (Ozurdex®) implant.
abstract: A 52-year-old woman undergoing azathioprine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis developed acute retinal necrosis a month after intravitreal dexamethasone (Ozurdex ®) implantation for posterior uveitis in the left eye. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) DNA was detected in the anterior chamber and vitreous samples on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Retinal detachment occurred despite systemic and intravitreal antiviral therapy. Favorable structural and functional outcomes were achieved after retinal surgery with silicone oil. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of acute retinal necrosis following placement of an Ozurdex® implant. Physicians practicing Ozurdex® implantations should be aware of this unusual but devastating complication. Extra caution and frequent follow-up are required in all immunocompromised patients receiving Ozurdex® implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gulhane Military Academy of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kucukevcilioglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gulhane Military Academy of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Siirt Military Hospital, Siirt, Turkey.
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yolcu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gungor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sobaci
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D015882:Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D001379:Azathioprine