[Endophthalmitis as a complication of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration and degenerative myopia].
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents, injected intravitreally, became a standard therapy for choroidal neovascularization in a course of wet age-related macular degeneration and degenerative myopia. Endophthalmitis is a very rare but the most serious complication associated with this procedure. The purpose of this paper is to present three patients with endophthalmitis following intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents. In the analysed material, the authors confirmed endophthalmitis in 2 of 4176 patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration and choroidal neovascularization associated with degenerative myopia (0.048%). The third reported case is a patient with endophthalmitis following the injection of bevacizumab performed in another center. The time interval between the injection and the onset of endophthalmitis was 2-5 days. In two patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy--one patient regained best corrected visual acuity, while another showed no improvement and developed eye atrophy. In one case the microbiological examination showed a growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis, while in another a negative culture result was present. Endopthalmitis is a rare complication following the intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents. The proper selection of therapy depends on presenting best corrected visual acuity and severity of intraocular inflammation. The time of commencing treatment is a crucial prognostic factor, however, our observations showed that prompt and repeated surgical procedures cannot prevent irreversible vision loss in all cases.
Agnieszka
A
Kuhicka-Trząska
Justyna J
JJ
Jędrychowska-Jamhorska
Agnieszka
A
Kulig-Stochmal
Krzysztof
K
Morawski
Boena
B
Romanowska-Dixon
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced; D058449:Intravitreal Injections / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab