Safety of intravitreal metoprolol in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To investigate ocular safety of intravitreal metoprolol in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy. METHODS: Five eyes of five patients diagnosed with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC) previously treated unsuccessfully with oral spironolactone, micropulse laser and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents were enrolled and received off-label intravitreal metoprolol (50 µg/0.05 ml). Baseline and follow-up examinations included measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, anterior chamber cellular/flare scores, vitritis classification, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography and electroretinography (ERG), recorded by means of DTL electrodes and following the standard suggested by the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV). The total follow-up period was 4 weeks. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between baseline and follow-up ERG parameters: scotopic or photopic, a- and b-wave amplitude and implicit time, nor oscillatory potentials amplitude, or whatsoever. No intraocular inflammation sign was observed. In addition, BCVA showed small improvement in 4 or kept baseline values in 1 patient. The subretinal and/or intraretinal fluid volume reduced in all patients at 1 month after treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients with refractory cCSC treated with intravitreal 50 µg/0.05 ml metoprolol showed no signs of acute ocular toxicity, along with intraretinal fluid reduction and slight BCVA improvement 1 month after injection. This data suggest that intravitreal metoprolol may be a safe alternative for cCSC.

Short-pulse laser plus subthreshold diffuse laser for serous retinal detachment in dome-shaped macula.

BACKGROUND: First described by Gaucher and associates in 2008, dome-shaped macula (DSM) is an anterior convex protrusion of the macula visible on OCT (optical coherence tomography). Visual impairment in DSM results mainly from sub-foveal serous retinal detachment (SRD). Herein, this original study from retrospective data analysis evaluate the anatomical and functional effects of Pascal® short-pulse (SP) laser plus endpoint management (EpM) subthreshold diffuse laser (SDL) in patients with SRD due to DSM. METHODS: This retrospective study included seven consecutive patients (eight eyes) with SRD secondary to dome-shaped macula who underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation including logMAR BCVA, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) before combined Pascal® SP laser plus EpM-SDL with 1 to 6 month intervals, postoperatively, with a mean ± standard error (SE) follow-up time of 12.92 ± 1.34 months. RESULTS: Eight eyes from seven patients were analyzed in this study. At baseline, mean BCVA (LogMAR) ± standard error (SE) and mean CST (central subfield thickness)(µm) ± SE were 0.6125 ± 0.14 and 412.50 ± 24.65, respectively. After a mean follow-up time of 12.92 ± 1.34 months, mean CST (µm) ± SE and BCVA (LogMAR) ± SE were 294.75 ± 19.68 (p = 0.0078) and 0.4537 ± 0.12 (p = 0.0313), respectively. A statistically significant reduction in mean CST and an improvement in mean BCVA were noted after SRD resolution with laser therapy application. The mean serous retinal detachment resolution time (months) ± SE was 3.75 ± 1.08. No adverse events were registered, including enlargement of atrophic alterations and choroidal neovascularization. CONCLUSIONS: The novel combined laser modality with Pascal® SP laser plus EpM-SDL treatment may induce subretinal fluid regression and BCVA improvement 1 year after treatment in DSM patients with SRD.

Alternative management of central serous chorioretinopathy using intravitreal metoprolol.

BACKGROUND: Beta-blockers may counteract the effect of catecholamines on central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) pathology and accelerate the improvement of neurosensory retinal detachment. Oral propranolol has been associated with decreased duration of CSC in some studies. We describe two patients with visually symptomatic chronic CSC (cCSC) treated successfully with intravitreal metoprolol. CASE PRESENTATIONS: After obtaining the patients' informed consent, two eyes of two 43-year-old men diagnosed with cCSC treated unsuccessfully with oral spirolactone, micropulse laser and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents were treated with one off-label intravitreal injection of metoprolol (50 µg/0.05 ml). Baseline (pre-injection) and follow-up examinations (at 1 month post-injection) included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anterior and posterior segment biomicroscopy, fundus autofluorescence, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Spectralis, Heidelberg), and electroretinogaphy (ERG) according to International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) full-field scotopic and photopic standard protocols. ERG results at baseline (pre-injection) and at 1 month post-injection were compared using paired t-tests. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in any of the ISCEV recommended ERG parameters with respect to a- and b-wave amplitude and implicit time, and oscillatory potentials maximal amplitude. BCVA improved in both patients. Neither patient developed clinical evidence of intraocular inflammation. Subretinal and/or intraretinal fluid had improved in both patients at 1 month after the metoprolol injection. CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings suggest that intravitreal metoprolol may be a safe alternative therapy for patients with cCSC.

Hipotensão intracraniana espontânea tratada com tamponamento sanguíneo peridural: relato de caso / Spontaneous intracranial hypotension treated with epidural blood patch: case report

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Hipotensão intracraniana espontânea (HIE) é uma síndrome caracterizada por cefaleia postural associada à baixa pressão liquórica e que desaparece rapidamente ao decúbito. A terapia varia de tratamento conservador a procedimentos invasivos, como a realização de tampão sanguíneo peridural. O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar o caso de uma paciente com cefaleia postural secundária à HIE tratada com tampão sanguíneo peridural. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo feminino, 33 anos, branca, há 7 meses com quadro de cefaleia ortostática diária, holocraniana, acompanhada de náuseas e vômitos, desencadeada pelo ortostatismo e aliviada pelo decúbito. Sem história de punção dural ou outra causa de fístula. História prévia de enxaqueca há mais de 10 anos. Ao exame neurológico sem déficits, porém com dificuldade para deambular devido a tonturas e cefaleia. Punção lombar evidenciou hipotensão liquórica. Foi realizado tampão sanguíneo peridural em nível de L3-L4 com 20 mL de sangue autólogo, sem intercorrências e com resolução da cefaleia. CONCLUSÃO: O tampão sanguíneo peridural foi uma opção efetiva no tratamento da HIE não solucionada com o tratamento conservador.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a syndrome characterized by postural headache associated to CSF hypotension, which is rapidly resolved with decubitus. Therapy varies from conservative approaches to invasive procedures, such as epidural blood patch. This study aimed at presenting a case of postural headache secondary to SIH and treated with epidural blood patch. CASE REPORT: Female patient, 33 years old, Caucasian, for seven months suffering from daily orthostatic holocrainal headache, followed by nausea and vomiting, triggered by orthostatism and relieved by decubitus. No history of dural puncture or other reason for fistula. Previous history of migraine for more than ten years. Neurological evaluation has shown no deficits, however she had difficulties to walk due to dizziness and headache. Lumbar puncture has shown CSF hypotension. An epidural blood patch was performed in L3-L4 with autologous blood, without intercurrences and resolving her headache. CONCLUSION: Epidural blood patch was effective to treat SIH not resolved with conservative approaches.