Abstracts

CASE REPORTS

Pseudohypopyon immediately after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide - Case reports

Pseudohipópio pós-injeção intravítrea de triancinolona - Relato de casos

Vânia Ewert de Campos^I; André Maia^II; Cristina Muccioli^III; Rubens Belfort Jr.^IV

^IEstagiária do Setor de Uveítes e AIDS do Departamento de Oftalmologia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP. São Paulo (SP)

^IIDoutor em Oftalmologia pela UNIFESP. São Paulo (SP)

^IIIProfessora Afiliada, Livre Docente do Departamento de Oftalmologia da UNIFESP. São Paulo (SP)

^IVProfessor Titular do Departamento de Oftalmologia da UNIFESP. São Paulo (SP)

^{Correspondence} Correspondence to Rua Botucatu, 822 São Paulo (SP) CEP 04023-062 E-mail: ewert@uol.com.br

ABSTRACT

Report on the development of pseudohypopyon immediately after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TAAC). Two phakic patients presenting with a transient pseudohypopyon after having been treated with intravitreal triamcinolone. One had a clinically significant macular edema with cystoid component (CSME with CMS) and the other, active Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) with serous retinal detachment of the macula. One eye from each patient developed a pseudohypopyon with crystal deposits adherent to the corneal endothelium. In one case it appeared right after the injection and disappeared spontaneously in 24 hours. In the other patient it appeared on day 3 and disappeared also spontaneously within 2 days. The pseudohypopyon is an important sign that can be observed after intravitreal injection of TAAC, in phakic patients, with spontaneous resolution and without complication. The pseudohypopyon caused by the deposition of TAAC in the anterior chamber immediately after its injection into the vitreous should be differentiated from other forms of hypopyon associated with this type of treatment.

Keywords: Uveitis; Eye diseses/chemically induced; Eye diseases/physiopathology; Triamcinolone/adverse effects; Triamcinolone/therapeutic use; Adrenal cortex hormones/adverse effects; Injections; Differential diagnosis; Case report [Publication type]

RESUMO

Descrição de dois casos de pacientes submetidos à injeção intravítrea de acetonida de triancinolona (AT), que desenvolveram pseudo-hipópio transitório. Um paciente apresentava edema macular diabético clinicamente significativo com componente cistóide e o outro, com descolamento seroso de retina agudo com Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada, e ambos desenvolveram pseudo-hipópio com presença de depósitos de cristais no endotélio corneano; em um caso o pseudo-hipópio desapareceu espontaneamente em 24 horas, no outro caso o pseudo-hipópio teve duração de 2 dias. O pseudo-hipópio é importante sinal que pode ser observado após injeção intravítrea de AT, em pacientes fácicos, apresentando resolução espontânea sem complicações. Este pseudo-hipópio causado por depósitos de cristais de AT deve ser considerado diagnóstico diferencial para hipópio infeccioso associado a este tipo de tratamento.

Descritores: Uveíte; Oftalmopatias/induzido quimicamente; Oftalmopatias/fisiopatologia; Triancinolona/efeitos adversos; Triancinolona/uso terapêutico; Corticosteróides/efeitos adversos; Injeções; Diagnóstico diferencial; Relatos de casos [Tipo de publicação]

INTRODUCTION

Triamcinolone acetonide (TAAC) is a potent, relatively insoluble steroid that has been used for various ocular diseases, and shown to be of benefit for the control of intraocular inflammation, especially in patients with vitreoretinopathy and resistant long-standing uveitis^(1-2). The most common side effects observed after intravitreal TAAC are elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and progressive lens opacity^(1-6). Hypopyon also has been described. We present here two phakic patients, who developed pseudohypopyon immediately after TAAC intravitreal injection and which resolved without specific treatment.

Case 1

34-year-old woman, with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH), with acute bilateral serous detachment; visual acuity of count fingers at 2 meters in both eyes (OU), no anterior chamber reaction and intraocular pressure (IOP) of 12 mmHg OU, was treated with an intravitreal injection of TAAC (0.1 ml) in the right eye. Immediately after the injection we could observe a semifluid substance accumulating in the inferior part of the anterior chamber forming a pseudohypopyon, and crystal deposits that accumulated on the endothelial surface of the cornea. There was no pain or rise in the intraocular pressure. One day later the pseudohypopyon had disappeared and the crystal deposits were observed in the corneal endothelium, for more 2 days.

Case 2

A 58-year-old diabetic man, with a best corrected visual acuity of 20/40 in OD and 20/400 in OS, no anterior chamber reaction and an IOP of 18 mmHg OU. The fundoscopic examination disclosed a proliferative diabetic retinopathy with clinically significant macular edema OU and with cystoid component in OS. He was treated with an intravitreal injection of TAAC (0.1 ml) and developed, 3 days after the injection a pseudohypopyon, with crystal deposits adherent to the endothelial surface of the cornea (Figure 1). In 3 days, the pseudohypopyon resolved spontaneously.

DISCUSSION

In theses cases, TAAC was present in the anterior chamber and sediment like a hypopyon right after the intravitreal injection in one patient resolving in one day. In the other patient it appeared 3 days after the injection and persisted for 2 days. In both patients it resolved completely without treatment. The pseudohypopyon may occur after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone, and seems to be a distinct clinical entity that may resolve without specific treatment.

Recebido para publicação em 02.06.2004

Aprovação em 22.10.2004

Nota Editorial: Após concluída a análise do artigo sob sigilo editorial e com a anuência da Dra. Mariza Toledo de Abreu sobre a divulgação de seu nome como revisora dele, agradecemos sua participação nesse processo.

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