title: SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO INFECTIOUS UVEITIS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety and efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implants in the treatment of macular edema secondary to infectious uveitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed clinical records from three uveitis referral units in Spain. The main outcome measures were rate of reactivation of infection, improvements in visual acuity and resolution of macular edema, as measured by optical coherence tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included eight eyes from seven patients with a median age of 64 years (30-75). Etiologies of the infections were Herpes simplex virus-type 1, Varicela-Zoster virus, Treponema pallidum, Brucella mellitensis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Toxoplasma gondii, and cytomegalovirus. Median visual acuity was 20/160 (20/30-20/400) at baseline and 20/70 (20/25-20/200) at the last follow-up visit. Mean macular thickness was 516 μm (115) at baseline and 266.3 μm (40) at the last follow-up visit. Visual acuity improved in 100% of the eyes and none of the eyes showed macular edema at the last follow-up visit. Five patients required reinjections of the implant. Only one patient required antiglaucoma drops for a temporary increase in ocular pressure. There were no cases of reactivation of the infectious ocular disease. Median follow-up time was 18 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this small case series of eyes with macular edema secondary to infectious uveitis, treatment with dexamethasone intravitreal implants was not associated with reactivation of the infectious ocular disease. Furthermore, significant improvements in visual acuity and macular thickness were observed in our patients.
authors.affiliation: *Begiker-Ophthalmology Research Group, Ophthalmology Department, BioCruces Health Research Institute, Cruces Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain; †Ophthalmology Institute, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; ‡Autoimmune Diseases Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, BioCruces Health Research Institute, Cruces Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain; §Infectious Disease Department, BioCruces Health Research Institute, Cruces Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain; and ¶Uveitis Unit, Ophthalmology Department, León Hospital, IBIOMED, León University, León, Spain.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fonollosa
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Llorenç
authors.forename: Joseba
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Artaraz
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Arruza
authors.forename: Koldo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Agirrebengoa
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cordero-Coma
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Costales-Mier
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014605:Uveitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone