Brevibacterium casei endophthalmitis after intravitreal dexamethasone implant.

CLINICAL CASE: 49-year-old man with diabetic macular edema refractory to antiangiogenics, it is decided to perform therapy with intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex; Allergan, California, United States of America). Seven days after treatment, he showed acute endophthalmitis suggestive signs. Despite the intravitreal injection of antibiotics, the patient got worse. Vitreous sampling was repeated for Gram and cultures, and vitrectomy was performed via pars plana. The culture suggested the development of Brevibacterium species. Through an additional test, the presence of Brevibacterium casei was confirmed. Despite the treatment adjusted by antibiogram, retinal ischemia and macular atrophy was evident. DISCUSSION: Brevibacterium casei is a Gram-positive bacterium, barely pathogenic, that mainly affects immunodepressed patients. Only two cases of endophthalmitis are described, one endogenous and the other one secondary to vegetal trauma. This is the first case of endophthalmitis, secondary to an ophthalmological procedure.

Endoftalmitis aguda por Brevibacterium casei tras implante intravítreo de dexametasona / Brevibacterium casei endophthalmitis after intravitreal dexamethasone implant

Caso clínico Hombre de 49años, con edema macular diabético refractario a antiangiogénicos, en el que se realizó terapia intravítrea con implante de dexametasona (Ozurdex; Allergan, California, Estados Unidos). Tras 7días presentó signos sugerentes de endoftalmitis aguda. Pese a la inyección intravítrea de antibióticos, el paciente empeoró. Se repitió la toma de muestras en vítreo para Gram y cultivos, y se realizó vitrectomía vía pars plana. El cultivo sugirió el desarrollo de Brevibacterium species. Mediante una prueba adicional, se confirmó la presencia de Brevibacterium casei. Pese al tratamiento ajustado por antibiograma, se evidenció isquemia retiniana y atrofia macular. Discusión Brevibacterium casei es una bacteria grampositiva, escasamente patógena, que afecta principalmente a inmunodeprimidos. Se han descrito solo dos casos de endoftalmitis, una endógena y otra secundaria a trauma vegetal. Este es el primer caso de endoftalmitis por Brevibacterium casei secundaria a procedimiento oftalmológico (AU)

Clinical case A 49-year-old man with diabetic macular edema refractory to antiangiogenics was treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex; Allergan, California, USA). Seven days after treatment, he showed acute endophthalmitis suggestive signs. Despite the intravitreal injection of antibiotics, the patient got worse. Vitreous sampling was repeated for Gram and cultures, and vitrectomy was performed via pars plana. The culture suggested the development of Brevibacterium species. Through an additional test, the presence of Brevibacterium casei was confirmed. Despite the treatment adjusted by antibiogram, retinal ischemia and macular atrophy was evident. Discusion Brevibacterium casei is a Gram-positive bacterium, barely pathogenic, that mainly affects immunodepressed patients. Only two cases of endophthalmitis are described, one endogenous and the other one secondary to vegetal trauma. This is the first case of Brevibacterium casei endophthalmitis, secondary to an ophthalmological procedure (AU)

Brevibacterium casei endophthalmitis after intravitreal dexamethasone implant. / Endoftalmitis aguda por Brevibacterium casei tras implante intravítreo de dexametasona.

CLINICAL CASE: A 49-year-old man with diabetic macular edema refractory to antiangiogenics was treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex; Allergan, California, USA). Seven days after treatment, he showed acute endophthalmitis suggestive signs. Despite the intravitreal injection of antibiotics, the patient got worse. Vitreous sampling was repeated for Gram and cultures, and vitrectomy was performed via pars plana. The culture suggested the development of Brevibacterium species. Through an additional test, the presence of Brevibacterium casei was confirmed. Despite the treatment adjusted by antibiogram, retinal ischemia and macular atrophy was evident. DISCUSION: Brevibacterium casei is a Gram-positive bacterium, barely pathogenic, that mainly affects immunodepressed patients. Only two cases of endophthalmitis are described, one endogenous and the other one secondary to vegetal trauma. This is the first case of Brevibacterium casei endophthalmitis, secondary to an ophthalmological procedure.

Non-pharmacological complications associated with Intravitreal dexamethasone implant injection. / Complicaciones no farmacológicas asociadas a la inyección de implante intravítreo de dexametasona.

OBJECTIVE: Intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IID) is an effective and safe treatment for macular oedema as described in the literature. Ocular hypertension and cataracts are the most frequent complications. The indications of IID in the last few years have led to the retrospective reporting of rare complications, with potential visual impact related to the injection procedure. METHODS: A case series is presented of fifteen patients treated with IID for macular oedema who developed non-pharmacological complications related to the injection procedure or the implant itself, including, among others anterior chamber migration, intracrystalline injection, endophthalmitis, or segmentation. Differentiation was made between true complications and those that did not lead to any ocular damage. Epidemiological and baseline data were collected along with the treatment and outcome in each case. An analysis was made of multimodal imaging available. RESULTS: The incidence of complications was 0.65% in this series Anterior chamber migration was the most frequent complication (n=4), followed by intracrystalline injection, and endophthalmitis (n=2). The times between the injection and complications were variable. Visual impairment was the most common symptom (n=6). However, despite the complications found, IID was an effective treatment in most of the reported cases. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware of these rare non-pharmacological complications so that they may be prevented and detected early, avoiding irreversible ocular damage.

Closure of stage 2 macular hole with a low-dose intravitreal injection of perfluoropropane.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic macular holes (IMH) are common and affect central vision. We demonstrate the effectiveness of 0.2 ml intravitreal perfluoropropane (C3F8) in Stage-2 IMH. CASE: A 61-year-old woman presented with blurred vision OD. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/125 OD and 20/20 OS. Biomicroscopy of OD evidenced a Stage-2 IMH. Intravitreal C3F8 was injected and postural measures prescribed. Optical coherence tomography 1 week after revealed posterior vitreous detachment and vitreomacular traction resolution. Full anatomical and functional recovery was achieved at week 4 and remained stable during a 6-month follow-up (BCVA 20/20 OD). CONCLUSION: Intravitreal C3F8 as initial therapy for Stage 2 IMH represents a good alternative to vitrectomy for patients with IMH.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los agujeros maculares idiopáticos (AMI) son comunes y afectan la visión central. Demostramos la efectividad de 0.2 ml de perfluoropropano (C3F8) intravítreo en AMI en estadio 2. CASO: Una mujer de 61 años presentó con visión borrosa súbita OD. Mejor agudeza visual corregida (MAVC) 20/125 OD y 20/20 en el OS. La biomicroscopía del OD evidenció un AMI en estadio 2. Se inyectó C3F8 intravítreo y se prescribieron medidas posturales. Una semana después, la tomografía de coherencia óptica reveló desprendimiento de vítreo posterior. La resolución de tracción vitreomacular con recuperación anatómica y funcional completa se logró a la semana 4 y se mantuvo estable durante un seguimiento de 6 meses (MAVC 20/20 OD). CONCLUSIÓN: El C3F8 intravítreo como terapia inicial para AMI en estadio 2 representa una buena alternativa a la vitrectomía vía pars plana en pacientes con AMI.

Choroidal neovascular membrane associated with unilateral retinitis pigmentosa. / Membrana neovascular coroidea asociada a retinitis pigmentosa unilateral.

A 67 year-old woman with diabetes mellitus type 2 no medical background of interest was attended in hospital due to visual loss of left eye of 4 months of onset. The fundus examination revealed findings corresponding to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the right eye and pigmented lesions similar to bone spicules and atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium in the middle periphery and in the macular area in the left eye. The full-field electroretinogram was flat, with a slight insinuation of the b-wave in the light adaptation with a single flash of 3.0cd in the left eye. The optical coherence tomography showed the atrophic retina in all its layers, as well as intraretinal cysts and a serous neurosensory detachment of the macular retina with a lesion of high reflectivity in the left eye. Infectious and inflammatory diseases were ruled out. Three doses of intravitreal ranibizumab were administered monthly. The presence of choroidal neovascular membrane associated with unilateral retinitis pigmentosa has not been previously reported. The patient improved with intravitreal ranibizumab.

Cambios en la presión arterial sistémica por uso de Bevacizumab intravítreo / Changes in systemic blood pressure by intravitreal bevacizumab

Introducción: El estudio busca evaluar si existe diferencia en la presión arterial sistémica previa y 24 horas posterior de la aplicación de Bevacizumab intravítreo en pacientes con diversas retinopatías. Metodología: Se examinaron a 68 pacientes, con el objetivo de determinar la presión arterial previa y posterior a la aplicación de Bevacizumab intravítreo. Para el análisis se utilizó un estudio observacional prospectivo tipo cohorte. Se comprobó a través del método de t-student para muestras apareadas con un alfa de 0.05, si existen cambios significativos a nivel de presión sistémica arterial previa de la administración intravítreo y 24 horas posteriores a ella. Resultados: Se estudiaron 68 pacientes con diversas retinopatías, excluyéndose 4 por no cumplir con los criterios de inclusión para el estudio. Se obtuvo cambios de la presión arterial sistémica que resultaron en un aumento aproximado de 7.44 mmHg en la presión sistólica y de 2.41 mmHg en la presión diastólica. Conclusiones: El Bevacizumab intravítreo causa un aumento en la presión arterial sistémica 24 horas posterior al su uso. Como ya se había observado en otros estudios siendo esta una causa adversa de uso en pacientes de riesgo.

Introduction: The study aimed to evaluate possible differences in previous systemic arterial blood pressure and 24 hours after the application of intravitreal Bevacizumab in patients with various retinopathies. Method: A total of 68 patients were studied with the objective of determining arterial blood pressure before and after the application of intravitreal Bevacizumab. This is a prospective observational cohort study and possible differences were calculated by t-student test for paired samples with an alpha of 0.05. Significant changes of arterial blood pressure were evaluated previous to intravitreal administration and 24 hours after. Results: A total of 68 patients with various retinopathies were studied. Four were excluded because did not meet the inclusion criteria. Changes in systemic blood pressure showed in an increase of approximately 7.44 mmHg in systolic pressure and an increase of 2.41 mmHg in the diastolic one. Conclusions: Intravitreal Bevacizumab mildly increase systemic blood pressure 24 hours after its use. As already observed in other studies, this is an adverse cause for its use in risk patients.

Update on the management of vasoproliferative tumour. / Actualización sobre el manejo del tumor vasoproliferativo.

CASE REPORT: Here we report a 19-year-old female patient who presented a vasoproliferative tumour. It caused complications, such as epiretinal membrane, macular oedema, vitreous haemorrhage, and exudative retinal detachment. The patient was treated with 3 injections of intravitreal bevacizumab, an intravitreal dexamethasone implant, tocilizumab, and double freeze-thaw cryotherapy. DISCUSSION: Therapeutic options are: observation, if it is small, if it is a peripheral lesion, and if there seems to be no threat to vision. If it requires treatment, laser photocoagulation, intravitreal bevacizumab, trans-conjunctival cryotherapy, transpupillary thermotherapy, photodynamic therapy, brachytherapy plaques and surgery are the different options available. Recently, tocilizumab and intravitreal dexamethasone implants have been reported to be beneficial.

Cardiovascular involvement in patients with diabetic macular oedema treated with intravitreal ranibizumab in routine clinical practice. / Afectación cardiovascular en pacientes con edema macular diabético tratados con ranibizumab intravítreo en la práctica clínica habitual.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cardiovascular events in naïve patients with diabetic macular oedema, before and after being treated with intravitreal ranibizumab. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective and descriptive study was conducted on patients with diabetic macular oedema and foveal involvement, who started treatment with intravitreal ranibizumab in 2014 in the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria and the Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe. During the follow-up until August 2015, a record was made of parameters, including the prevalence and incidence of stroke and myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Among the 1,324 intravitreal ranibizumab injections administered in 2014, only 159 of them corresponded to treatment initiation in 99 patients, with more than half requiring treatment of both eyes. The study patients included 58.4% males, in the 6th decade of life (Mean=65.93±11.24 years), non-smokers (86.7%), type 2 diabetes (91.9%), hypertension (70.7%), and with dyslipidaemia (65.7%). Prior to treatment initiation, it was found that 6 patients (6.1%) suffered from an acute myocardial infarction, and 8 (8.1%) from stroke, and only one (1%) with post-stroke (P=.039). CONCLUSION: In our experience it seems that the intravitreal ranibizumab in diabetic macular oedema could be a safe alternative in patients with a history of stroke and myocardial infarction.

Juxtapapillary neovascular membrane secondary to idiopathic intracranial hypertension treated with intravitreal bevacizumab: A case report. / Membrana neovascular coroidea yuxtapapilar secundaria a hipertensión intracraneal idiopática tratada con bevacizumab intravítreo: a propósito de un caso.

CASE REPORT: A 48 year-old woman with visual acuity loss in left eye (0.3). Funduscopic examination showed papillary oedema and neovascular membrane in the left eye. All neurological tests were normal, except the lumbar puncture with opening pressure of 35cmH2O, being diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). After four doses of bevacizumab, the visual acuity of the left eye has not improved and is counting fingers. DISCUSSION: Pathogenesis of the juxtapapillary neovascular membrane associated with IIH is not well known. An effect was observed after the anti-VEGF treatment. In our case, there was no improvement after four doses of intravitreal bevacizumab.

Dexamethasone intravitreal implants for diabetic macular edema refractory to ranibizumab monotherapy or combination therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and local safety of dexamethasone intravitreal implants as a treatment in diabetic macular edema (DME) refractory to intravitreal injections of ranibizumab monotherapy or combination therapy. METHODS: A retrospective study conducted on patients with DME refractory to ranibizumab monotherapy or combined with other treatments treated with dexamethasone intravitreal implants. The parameters analyzed were visual acuity (VA) by ETDRS (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study) charts and foveal thickness by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) before the treatment, 2 months after treatment, and at the end of the follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 14 eyes of 14 patients were included, with a mean age of 64 years (SD: 9.5; range 41-78) and a mean follow-up of 7.6 months. The mean VA improved from 53 letters to 59 letters at 2 months (P=.03), and 57 at the end of the follow-up period (P=.3). The mean foveal thickness decreased from 502 µ to 304 µ at 2 months (P=.001), and 376 µ at the end of the follow-up period (P=.009). Further treatment with intravitreal dexamethasone was required in 43% of the patients, and 21% had increased intraocular pressure, which was controlled with topical medication. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal dexamethasone implant is an effective and locally safe treatment for the management of DME refractory to ranibizumab monotherapy or combined with other treatments.

Manejo de toxoplasmosis ocular severa con clindamicina y triamcinolona intravitreas: reporte de 22 casos / Management of severe ocular toxoplasmosis with intravitreal clindamycin and triamcinolone: report of 22 cases

Objetivo: determinar la eficacia del uso secuencial de clindamicina - triamcinolona intravítreas en el tratamiento de la toxoplasmosis retinal severa (definida como aquella que afecta la macula y/o el nervio óptico) y de las toxoplasmosis atípicas difusas. Métodos: se evaluaron prospectivamente 22 ojos de 22 pacientes con diagnóstico de toxoplasmosis retinal severa, manejados con clindamicina intravítrea (4,5mg/0,03 cc) seguida, una semana después, de la aplicación de triamcinolona intravítrea (4mgs/0,1 cc). La agudeza visual se midió y se convirtió a LogMAR y se realizó una comparación con la prueba de Wilcoxon para establecer diferencias. Resultados: el 82% (18 pacientes) de los ojos tratados con este esquema presentaron mejoria de la agudeza visual, el 9 % (2 pacientes), se estabilizaron, el 9% (2 pacientes), empeoraron después del tratamiento. Sin tratamiento, el 74% de los pacientes (16 pacientes) tenían visión menor a 20/200. Con el tratamiento, este porcentaje disminuyó al 26% (6 pacientes). La agudeza visual expresada en LogMAR cambió después del tratamiento, pasando de 1.05 antes del tratamiento a 0,51, con una significancia estadística valor de p=0.002. Luego del tratamiento, 12 de los 22 pacientes (54%), estaban por encima de 20/50, logrando 20/20 en tres casos y 20/25 en cinco casos. No se observaron casos de hipertensión ocular, y se reportaron cinco complicaciones durante el tratamiento. Conclusiones: el tratamiento de toxoplasmosis retinal severa con el esquema de clindamicina intravítrea seguida de triamcinolona intravítrea muestra resultados positivos. Este tratamiento se puede recomendar para casos de toxoplasmosis retinales severas, definidas como aquellas que comprometen mácula, nervio óptico o toxoplasmosis difusas atípicas.

Objective: to determine the efficacy of sequential use of intravitreal clindamycin - intravitreal triamcinolone in the treatment of retinal toxoplasmosis severe (defi ned as one that affects the macula and / or the optic nerve) and diffuse atypical toxoplasmosis. Methods: we prospectively evaluated 22 eyes of 22 patients diagnosed with severe retinal toxoplasmosis, managed with intravitreal clindamycin (4,5mg/0,03 cc) followed a week later, the application of intravitreal triamcinolone(4mgs/0,1 cc). Visual acuity was measured and converted to LogMAR. Comparisons were made using Wilcoxon test. Results: 82% (18 patients) of eyes treated with this system showed improved visual acuity, 9% (2 patients), stabilized, 9% (2 patients), worsened after treatment. Without treatment, 74% of patients (16 patients) had less than 20/200 vision. With treatment, this percentage decreased to 26% (6 patients). Visual acuity in LogMAR changed after treatment from 1,05 to 0,51 with statistical significance p=0,002. After treatment, 12 of 22 patients (54%) were above 20/50, 20/20 achieved in three cases and 20/25 in five cases. No cases of ocular hypertension and five complications were reported during treatment. Conclusions: The treatment of severe retinal toxoplasmosis with clindamycin scheme followed by intravitreal triamcinolone shows positive results. This treatment could be recommended for severe cases of retinal toxoplasmosis, defined as those that involve the macula, optic nerve, or diffuse atypical toxoplasmosis.

[Subretinal neovascular membrane in angioid streaks treated with intravitreal bevacizumab]. / Membrana neovascular subretiniana asociada a estrías angioides tratada con bevacizumab intravítreo.

INTRODUCTION: Angioid streaks are breaks in Bruch's membrane that may be associated, among others, with pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Its most common complication is the development of subretinal neovascular membranes (SRNVM) and the decreased vision this entails. CASE REPORT: A 28 year old woman with angioid streaks and SRNVM in the left eye, who received 3 injections of intravitreal bevacizumab, with rapid improvement in vision and stability during 11 months follow up. The finding of angioid streaks led to the diagnosis of pseudoxanthoma elasticum. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab should be considered as an effective treatment option for choroidal neovascularization associated with angioid streaks.