Corneal Toxicity of Intravitreal Methotrexate Used for the Treatment of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy in Silicone Oil-Filled Eyes: A Case Series

Clinical therapeutics for proliferative vitreoretinopathy in retinal detachment

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is an abnormal and prolonged healing response to retinal injury (retinal detachment, post retinal detachment surgery) characterised by: pre/subretinal membrane formation; retinal gliosis and retinal shortening, retinal pigment epithelium cell proliferation; and increased glial (mainly Mu¨ller cells), fibroblast and inflammatory cell (macrophage, lymphocyte) activity, leading to tractional retinal holes/breaks and multiple costly eye operations suffered by patients. PVR can cause retinal re-detachment following primary surgical intervention for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Vitrectomy and scleral buckling surgery are the main approaches for treating PVR complications of retinal detachment. Patients require many operations to remove the scar tissue but vision results are suboptimal, and do not meet patient expectations. Over the past 40 years, this has been one of the greatest challenges for vitreoretinal surgeons and patients. Despite previous large clinical trials of multiple candidate drug therapeutics, no proven adjunctive treatment currently exists to either prevent, reduce, or treat PVR formation in retinal detachment. Both cellular proliferation and the intraocular inflammatory response are realistic targets for adjunctive treatments in PVR. The cellular components of PVR periretinal membranes (retinal pigment epithelial, glial, inflammatory and fibroblastic cells) proliferate and are thus targets for antiproliferative agents. In recent years, several new therapeutics have been tested, and we present an updated review of the clinical therapeutics for PVR in retinal detachment.

THE ROLE OF INTRAVITREAL METHOTREXATE AS AN ADJUNCT TO LOCAL OR SYSTEMIC CORTICOSTEROIDS IN VITRECTOMY FOR RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT AND CHOROIDAL DETACHMENT: A Pilot Study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the role of repeated intravitreal methotrexate as an adjunct to pars plana vitrectomy in the management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with choroidal detachment.

METHOD

The authors compared anatomical and visual outcomes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with choroidal detachment eyes that underwent pars plana vitrectomy with (Group B) or without repeated intravitreal methotrexate (Group A).

RESULTS

The study included 25 eyes of 25 patients, 16 eyes in Group A and nine in Group B. Both groups had similar baseline characteristics. In Group A, successful retinal attachment was achieved in 50% as compared with 89% in Group B; however, the difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0.08). Also, Group B had a significantly greater change in visual acuity from baseline to the last follow-up visit (1.6 + 1.5 logMAR units) compared with Group A (1.18 + 1 logMAR units) ( P = 0.05). There were no significant safety concerns with the use of intravitreal methotrexate.

CONCLUSION

Repeated intravitreal methotrexate after vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with choroidal detachment improves outcomes without posing major safety concerns. Nonetheless, further investigation is necessary to establish the optimal intravitreal methotrexate dosage and duration to prevent recurrence effectively.

Effect of Oral Prednisone on the Prevention and Management of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy After Open-Globe Injury

Purpose: To determine the impact of oral prednisone on the final visual acuity (VA) and prevention of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in patients having pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for globe injuries. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all globe injuries with an initial repair and subsequent PPV between 2009 and 2018. Data included the initial VA, zones of injury, initial closure date, time to secondary intervention (PPV), oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) use, the final VA, and enucleation rate. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the impact of oral prednisone use on anatomic and functional outcomes. Results: The mean (±SD) patient age was 46.25 ±18.56 years (range, 13-92); 131 (83.9%) were men. Oral prednisone intake was recorded in 81 patients (52.3%). The prednisone group had significantly more zone 3 involvement (P = .001), worse initial VA (2.28 vs 1.92 logMAR; P = .003), and a greater mean number of surgeries (P = .020) than the no-steroids (control) group but an equivalent final logMAR VA (1.57 vs 1.52; P = .881). The prednisone group had significant VA improvement (P = .025); however, oral prednisone use did not predict the development of PVR (29.23% vs 12.90%; odds ratio [OR], 2.81; 95% CI, 0.89-8.85) or retinal detachment (27.27% vs 29.58%; OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.23-1.56). Conclusions: Despite a worse initial clinical presentation, patients who received oral prednisone had significant visual improvement compared with the control group. However, oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) use at the time of injury did not decrease the PVR rate.

Low-Dose Intravitreal Methotrexate for Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) has been mitigated by intravitreal methotrexate (MTX) 400 μg/0.1 mL in several studies. Here, we evaluate the results from a lower dose of MTX, 200 μg/0.05 mL.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified and reviewed records of patients with grade ≥C1 PVR who were treated with 200 μg/0.05 mL MTX injections: during PVR surgery and every 2 weeks thereafter.

RESULTS

Twenty-four eyes met inclusion criteria with a mean of 5.6 injections and follow-up ranging 6 to 56 months. The retina was reattached in 19 of 24 eyes (79%) after a single surgery and in 5 of 24 eyes (21%) after one additional PVR surgery. Visual acuity improved from baseline logMAR 1.63 to 0.97 at 12 months (P < .001), with 5 of 20 achieving 20/60 or better and 16 of 20 achieving 20/200 or better. One eye developed a transient corneal abrasion that resolved within 1 week.

CONCLUSION

Low-dose MTX (200 μg/0.05 mL) during and after PVR surgery resulted in good rates of retinal reattachment and visual acuity recovery. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54(3):139-146.].

Use of Intravitreal Methotrexate Infusion in Complicated Retinal Detachment for Prevention of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy in a Pilot Study

Objective

The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of per-operative intravitreal methotrexate (MTX) infusion during vitrectomy in patients of retinal detachment (RD) with advanced grade proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

Methods

In this prospective interventional case series, we included patients with Grade C PVR, recurrent RD, and open globe trauma. All patients underwent standard single surgeon operated 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with 80mg of MTX in 1000mL of irrigation fluid. All patients were followed up after four months to assess the final status of retinal attachment and visual acuity. Ethical review board permission was sought for this off-label use of MTX and all patients signed an informed consent form before this intervention.

Results

Thirty eyes of 30 patients with recurrent retinal detachment, open globe trauma, or grade C PVR at initial presentation were included in this study. After PPV, these patients were followed up after four months. A total of 24 (80%) patients maintained retinal attachment at four months. Mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.35 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (range 0.5-3) and mean four months postoperative BCVA was 1.01 logMAR (range 0.3-3) (Student’s t-test; P-value <0.05). Seventeen (56.6%) eyes had pre-operative BCVA of 1.0 whereas 25 (83.3%) had BCVA of 1.0 at the end of the follow-up period. Six (20%) patients had preoperative BCVA of 0.7 whereas 12 (40%) patients had BCVA of 0.7 at four months postoperatively. Out of six (20%) eyes developing RD after this intervention, four eyes achieved retinal reattachment after a second surgery. We did not observe any MTX-related complications during the follow-up period of this study.

Conclusion

Intravitreal MTX infusion during PPV for complicated RD as an adjunctive therapy showed encouraging results and was found to be safe in its use. We need more rigorous and controlled studies to confirm the possible advantages of MTX and its role in the prevention of PVR.