Abstract
Purpose
Eales' disease is an idiopathic peripheral perivasculitis leading to proliferative vascular retinopathy, recurrent vitreous haemorrhages, and tractional retinal detachment. It is an elusive cause of blindness in young, otherwise healthy individuals. We studied the effects of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) in patients of Eales' disease, which may eventually reduce the side effects and cost of management, with results equivalent to or better than oral steroids.
Methods
Ethics approval and prior patient consent were obtained. Fluorescein fundus angiograms (FFAs) of 12 eyes of 12 Eales' disease patients were taken before enrolment. These patients received 0.1 ml of 40 mg/ml (4 mg) intravitreal triamcinolone through pars plana under topical anaesthesia. Regular weekly follow-ups were initiated to ascertain Snellen visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP) with Goldman tonometer, and triple mirror examination. Fluorescein fundus angiography was again performed in the 8th week to monitor response to treatment. Decrease in areas of late perivascular dye extravasation on fluorescein angiography was used as marker for improvement.
Results
Ten out of a total of 12 (83.33%) eyes treated with IVTA showed significant reduction of late leakage from retinal vessels on fluorescein fundus angiography. Two out of 12 eyes (16.67%) did not show considerable decrease in late perivascular fluorescein dye leakage after 8 weeks of intravitreal triamcinolone injection. Two patients (16.67%) had a significant rise in IOP after IVTA.
Conclusion
Intravitreal steroids may be advocated for management of idiopathic retinal vasculitis without complications of systemic steroids, and minimize need for more invasive procedures.
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Acknowledgements
The project was funded by the authors at the Department of Ophthalmology, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
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Presented in part at the 9th Islamabad Congress of Ophthalmology, 9th till 11th April 2004 by Dr Muhammad Shahid
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Ishaq, M., Feroze, A., Shahid, M. et al. Intravitreal steroids may facilitate treatment of Eales' disease (idiopathic retinal vasculitis): an interventional case series. Eye 21, 1403–1405 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6702551
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6702551
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