Treatment of uveitic macular edema with acetazolamide

Regression of treatment-resistant gyrate atrophy-associated intraretinal cystic spaces using long-term diet restriction: A case report

PURPOSE

Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina (GA) is a rare genetic ophthalmologic condition which primarily manifests in childhood. It is characterized by hyperornithinemia and progressive chorioretinal atrophy. Patients may develop macular intraretinal cystic spaces (ICS) for which various treatment modalities have been reported. We report a patient who failed to demonstrate visual or anatomic improvement following multiple treatments for GA-associated ICS but showed improvement following prolonged dietary modification and vitamin supplementation.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 6-year-old male patient presented with previously undiagnosed GA associated with ICS. He received 6 consecutive monthly intravitreal bevacizumab injections as well as topical nepafenac and dorzolamide for treatment of ICS without significant change detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) following treatment. He was also maintained on an arginine restricted diet with vitamin B6 supplementation. Over the course of the ensuing year, the patient was lost to follow-up due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. When he returned, his vision was stable, and OCT showed regression of the ICS. His mother reported that he had continued only on dietary restriction and vitamin B6 supplementation with no other medications or interventions. Plasma ornithine level measurement confirmed dietary compliance. Further follow-up showed continued stabilization of the condition.

CONCLUSION

In addition to retarding progressive chorioretinal atrophy, prolonged dietary modifications may result in improvement of treatment-resistant GA-associated ICS. Parents' education on the value of dietary modifications for patients with GA is highly recommended.

RESPONSE OF INFLAMMATORY CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA TO TREATMENT USING ORAL ACETAZOLAMIDE

PURPOSE

To determine the treatment effect of oral acetazolamide on refractory inflammatory macular edema.

METHODS

A retrospective review of identified patients with uveitic or pseudophakic macular edema treated using acetazolamide between 2007 and 2014. Visual acuity and central macular subfield thickness was determined at baseline and at first follow-up. Baseline optical coherence tomography features were analyzed as predictors of acetazolamide response.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients (19 eyes) of 61 screened met all criteria. Mean age was 57.9 years (19.7-81.1). The most common diagnosis was idiopathic uveitis (n = 6, 31.6%). Mean uveitis duration was 4.4 years (0.2-27.5). Average central macular subfield thickness decreased significantly (from 471.8 ± 110.6 μm to 358.3 ± 50.4 μm) (P < 0.0001). Average visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) improved significantly from 20/54 (0.43 ± 0.25) to 20/37 (0.27 ± 0.16) (P = 0.003). Pretreatment optical coherence tomographies demonstrated intraretinal fluid (n = 19, 100%), subretinal fluid (n = 8, 42.1%), epiretinal membrane (n = 13, 68.3%), and vitreomacular traction (n = 1, 5.2%). No optical coherence tomography characteristic was predictive of a response to therapy.

CONCLUSION

There is a significant benefit to vision and central macular subfield thickness after acetazolamide treatment in patients with inflammatory macular edema. In patients with refractory inflammatory macular edema, treatment using acetazolamide can provide anatomical and visual benefit without corticosteroid-related adverse effects.

[Therapy of intermediate uveitis]

Intermediate uveitis is a form of intraocular inflammation in which the vitreous body is the major site of inflammation. Intermediate uveitis is primarily treated medicinally and systemic corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy. When recurrence of uveitis or side effects occur during corticosteroid therapy an immunosuppressive treatment is required. Cyclosporine A is the only immunosuppressive agent that is approved for therapy of uveitis in Germany; however, other immunosuppressive drugs have also been shown to be effective and well-tolerated in patients with intermediate uveitis. In severe therapy-refractory cases when conventional immunosuppressive therapy has failed, biologics can be used. In patients with unilateral uveitis or when the systemic therapy is contraindicated because of side effects, an intravitreal steroid treatment can be carried out. In certain cases a vitrectomy may be used.

Mycophenolate mofetil in the therapy of uveitic macular edema--long-term results

PURPOSE

To assess the long-term efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in uveitic cystoid macular edema (CMO).

METHODS

Thirty-eight uveitis patients with CMO treated with MMF with a follow-up of at least 5 years were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: group A, 24 patients with CMO that had occurred before initiation of MMF; group B, 14 patients who developed CMO for the first time during MMF.

RESULTS

In group A, a complete remission of CMO without recurrences was observed in 12 of 24 patients (50%, rate: 0.12/patient-year). In group B, CMO occurred in 7 patients (50%) despite standard dosage of MMF, and in 7 patients (50%) during MMF dose reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that MMF is not always sufficiently effective as a long-term treatment for uveitic macular edema. Moreover, in some uveitis patients MMF cannot prevent new development of CMO.

Intravitreal adalimumab for refractory uveitis-related macular edema

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal adalimumab injections on refractory cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to noninfectious uveitis.

DESIGN

Prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Eight consecutive patients with controlled uveitis and chronic, refractory CME who had failed steroid treatment.

INTERVENTION

Intravitreal adalimumab injections were given monthly for 3 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Mean change in central retinal thickness (CRT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT); secondary objective was the mean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

RESULTS

Five of the eight patients completed the 6-month follow-up. For all 5 patients, the changes in BCVA from baseline to 3 months were not statistically significant (P=0.070). Similarly, the change in BCVA from baseline to 6 months was not statistically significant (P=1.0). The mean CRT at baseline was 692 microm. The changes from baseline to 3 months were not statistically significant (P=0.466); the changes from baseline to 6 months were also not statistically significant (P=0.808). We did not observe any ocular or systemic adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravitreal adalimumab showed no efficacy in improving BCVA or reducing CRT in patients with chronic uveitic macular edema.

Treatment of adult-onset acute macular retinoschisis in enhanced s-cone syndrome with oral acetazolamide

PURPOSE

To report on the efficacy of the oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (CAI) acetazolamide in treating macular retinoschisis (RS) in the rare vitreoretinal dystrophy best known as the enhanced S-cone syndrome (ESCS).

DESIGN

Interventional case report.

METHODS

setting: University-based practice. patient: A 48-year old Jewish Italian male with clinically, functionally, and molecularly confirmed ESCS, attributable to homozygosity for the R311Q mutation in the NR2E3 gene, presented with sudden visual acuity (VA) loss (20/200) and metamorphopsia in the left eye resulting from acute, late-onset, asymmetric macular RS. intervention: Open-label, off-label treatment with the oral CAI acetazolamide. main outcome measure(s): Best-corrected VA, retinal thickness, and retinal microanatomy, assessed by Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) criteria.

RESULTS

Following treatment, instituted one month after the acute-onset VA loss, retinal thickness and microanatomic profile normalized in the affected eye, with restoration of 20/20 corrected VA. The fellow eye, which had remained asymptomatic at 20/16 vision, had experienced mild paracentral macular RS evident by OCT criteria, which also resolved completely following oral CAI treatment. The outcome was maintained throughout the follow-up period at a low maintenance dose.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together with other recent reported benefits of topical and oral CAIs in the treatment of macular RS in X-linked retinoschisis, this interventional case report shows that CAIs can be used to treat effectively macular RS in general, and also specifically in ESCS.

Octreotide long-acting repeatable for the treatment of chronic macular edema in uveitis

PURPOSE

To report on the efficacy of the somatostatin analog octreotide long-acting repeatable (LAR), in the treatment of uveitic chronic macular edema (CME).

DESIGN

Case series, retrospective analysis.

METHODS

In 20 patients, 20 episodes of recurrent CME during otherwise quiescent uveitis were treated with intramuscular octreotide LAR injections. Patients were included if CME control with acetazolamide or systemic and periocular steroids had failed during previous CME episodes or if contraindications existed for persistent use of these therapies. Mean outcome points were CME and visual acuity changes. Correlation of prognostic factors with these outcomes was analyzed.

RESULTS

The included CME episodes occurred 7.6 +/- 1.4 years after onset of uveitis. Octreotide LAR treatment started 7.0 +/- 7.3 months after diagnosis of CME. CME decreased in 70% of episodes, after 2.7 +/- 1.3 months of treatment. After arrest of successful treatment, CME recurred instantly (27.2%) or within six months (36.4%). In 36.4% of successfully treated episodes, CME was absent for more than one year. A probable prognostic factor for success was the duration of CME before treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Octreotide LAR had an edema-reducing effect in 70% of treated CME episodes. Successful response was related to duration of CME before start of treatment. The early recurrence of CME (63.6%) after arrest of octreotide LAR advocates a long-term treatment in recent episodes of macular edema in otherwise quiescent uveitis.

Pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal triamcinolone: effect on uveitic cystoid macular oedema and treatment limitations

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in combination with intraoperative intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection on the course of cystoid macular oedema (CME) in patients with uveitis.

METHODS

Patients with uveitis with CME (n = 19) not responding to systemic corticosteroids and/or immunosuppression combined with acetazolamide were retrospectively studied after PPV with additional intravitreal injection of 4 mg triamcinolone acetonide. Patients had chronic anterior uveitis (n = 4), intermediate uveitis (n = 9), posterior uveitis (n = 3) or panuveitis (n = 3). Visual acuity tests, tonometry, fluorescein angiographic appearance and postoperative complications were analysed. Mean follow-up was 14 months (SD 4.6).

RESULTS

CME improved in 58% of the patients within the first 6 weeks postoperatively. After 12 months, CME was further improved in 44% and worsened in another 12%. Improvement of visual acuity was noted in 42% after 3 months and in 28% after 12 months. Cataract progressed in 85% of the phacic patients postoperatively. Increased intraocular pressure was detected in 27% at 2 weeks and in 11% at 12 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Uveitic CME that is unresponsive to systemic immunosuppression and acetazolamide may improve after PPV with additional intravitreal triamcinolone application. The effect seems to be transient in many of the patients. Frequent complications were cataract formation and ocular hypertension.

INTERFERON ALFA-2A: A NEW TREATMENT OPTION FOR LONG LASTING REFRACTORY CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA IN UVEITIS?

PURPOSE

To perform a prospective pilot study to evaluate interferon alfa-2a (IFN alfa-2a) for the treatment of refractory cystoid macular edema (CME) in endogenous uveitis.

METHODS

IFN alfa-2a was administered at an initial dose of 3 or 6 million IU (depending on body weight) per day subcutaneously. Afterwards IFN alfa-2a was tapered slowly over 6 months and finally discontinued. If CME relapsed IFN alfa-2a was reinstituted and tapered slowly again to evaluate the lowest maintenance dose to keep remission.

RESULTS

A total of 15 eyes of 8 patients with refractory CME due to intermediate or posterior uveitis were included. Ineffective pretreatment consisted of systemic steroids and acetazolamide (all patients) and at least one additional immunosuppressant (6 patients). Six of 8 patients (11 eyes) responded well to IFN alfa-2a and CME resolved completely during 6 months treatment. One patient was lost to follow-up after IFN alfa-2a was stopped. In 1 patient (1 eye) even 19 months after cessation of IFN alfa-2a no recurrence of CME occurred. In 4 patients (8 eyes) IFN alfa-2a had to be reinstituted because CME relapsed. All 4 patients responded again. During a mean follow-up period of 16.4 months since restart of therapy we succeeded in all 4 patients to taper IFN alfa-2a to maintenance doses between 1.5 million IU every second and every sixth day without a recurrence of CME in any of the 8 eyes.

CONCLUSION

IFN alfa-2a can be a treatment option for patients with otherwise treatment resistant uveitic CME.

Safety and efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for uveitic macular edema

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for treating macular edema secondary to non-infectious uveitis.

METHODS

Retrospective review of sixteen patients (20 eyes) with chronic cystoid macular edema (CME) as a consequence of controlled intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, or panuveitis who received at least one intravitreal injection of TA. Main outcome measures were visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), formation or progression of an existing cataract, and CME resolution during the follow-up period.

RESULTS

At last follow-up, VA showed improvement (compared to baseline) in 11 eyes (55%), deterioration in three eyes (15%), remained completely unchanged in one eye (5%), and showed improvement initially but returned to baseline levels in five eyes (25%). At last follow-up, CME had relapsed or was still present in 10 of the eyes (50%). The remaining eyes showed complete resolution of the CME, without evidence of recurrence during the follow-up time. Mean VA at last follow-up showed statistically significant improvement (p = 0.02) in nonvitrectomized eyes (mean baseline VA: 1.14 +/- 0.58; mean final VA: 0.96 +/- 0.66) compared to the almost unaltered mean visual acuity for vitrectomized eyes (mean baseline VA: 0.76 +/- 0.41; mean final VA: 0.71 +/- 0.48)(p = 0.40, paired samples t-test). Elevation of IOP was transient in all cases and responded well to topical medications, except for one patient who required placement of an Ahmed valve. Preexisting cataract progressed in three of the 15 phakic eyes (20%). One patient developed a retinal detachment and required additional surgery to reattach it. Patients were followed for a mean of 34 weeks (median: 32 weeks; range: 19-56 weeks).

CONCLUSIONS

Intravitreal TA may play a role in the treatment of uveitis-related CME. Further controlled studies are necessary to test this hypothesis.

Zystoides Makulaödem bei Uveitis

Cystoid macular edema (CME) is the most frequent cause of visual deterioration in uveitis patients. Intraocular inflammation disturbs the blood-retina barrier and leads to retinal edema. The basis of successful treatment is the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapy of uveitis. Restoration of the blood-retina barrier is mediated by corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Resorption of extracellular fluid is improved by systemic carboanhydrase inhibitors. Despite aggressive therapy loss of visual acuity is frequent. Therefore, early diagnosis of CME and initiation of treatment, even if visual acuity is not yet impeded, is mandatory.

Long-term effect of acetazolamide treatment of patients with uveitic chronic cystoid macular edema is limited by persisting inflammation

PURPOSE

To assess the long-term effect of acetazolamide treatment on patients with cystoid macular edema (CME) in the course of intermediate or posterior chronic uveitis and to define those patients who may particularly benefit from the drug.

METHODS

Fifty-two eyes (45 patients) with chronic uveitic CME were treated with acetazolamide at an initial dosage of 500 mg/d. The effect of treatment was assessed by fluorescein angiography, ophthalmoscopy, visual acuity, and Amsler testing. Therapy was withdrawn when CME did not improve at 3 weeks. In cases with CME improvement, the dosage was gradually tapered.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 3.1 years (minimum, 1.5 years). Two subgroups were identified: group 1, quiescence of uveitis with acetazolamide as the single therapeutic agent (33 eyes); and group 2, chronically active uveitis requiring additional systemic antiinflammatory drugs (19 eyes). In both groups, visual acuity improvement was statistically significant (group 1, P = 0.012; group 2, P = 0.025). In 12 patients with a stable visual acuity gain, the medication dose could be tapered off completely without any recurrent edema shown by fluorescein angiography after a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Sixteen patients required a maintenance dosage, ranging from 125 to 500 mg daily. No major adverse effects of the medication were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

During long-term follow-up, low-dose acetazolamide can be a useful therapeutic option for chronic CME in uveitis. The effect was better in patients with quiescence of uveitis than in those with chronically active uveitis. Permanent therapy is not imperative in every case.

Die optische Koh�renztomographie (OCT) als Diagnose- und Verlaufsparameter bei uveitisbedingtem Makula�dem

BACKGROUND

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a relatively new, noninvasive method and has been well established as an effective diagnostic procedure for the investigation of several macular diseases. Knowledge about the efficacy of OCT in the diagnosis and follow-up of macular edema in uveitis patients is still limited.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In the first part of the study, OCT was performed in 22 eyes of 18 patients with anterior or intermediate uveitis who showed angiographic and fundoscopic evidence of macular edema. The OCT results were compared with the visual acuity and fundoscopic and angiographic appearance of macular edema. In the second part of the study, the same patients were followed over a period of approximately 5 months (+/-2 months) and OCT was repeated at different time points during treatment of uveitic macula edema.

RESULTS

OCT investigation also showed clear evidence of macular edema in all eyes and was not compromised by a low or medium degree of optical haze. Furthermore, OCT investigation revealed marked differences in the individual degree of macular edema (foveal heights 168-810 microm). Diffuse macular edema ( n = 4 ) and different types of cystoid macular edema (several distinguished cysts n = 6, partially or completely confluent cysts n = 11, one marked cyst n = 1) were observed. During the follow-up of the patients, OCT results, visual acuity, and fundoscopic appearance of the macula showed a comparable behavior. In some eyes, a stable visual acuity was accompanied by changes of foveal edema demonstrated by OCT.

CONCLUSION

Optical coherence tomography is a safe and highly effective method in the diagnosis of macular edema in uveitis associated with low or medium haze of the optical media. Furthermore, OCT investigation seems to be useful in the follow-up of uveitic macular edema under treatment.