Central Macular Thickness Monitoring after a Taxane-Based Therapy in Visually Asymptomatic Patients

Cystoid macular oedema without leakage in fluorescein angiography: a literature review

Cystoid macular oedema (CMO), which is defined as a macular thickening and cystic changes due to accumulation of fluid, could be asymptomatic and only diagnosed using paraclinical techniques. Fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are useful in detecting CMO in clinical practice. Non-leaking CMO, also known as angiographically silent CMO, is referred to as cases of CMO without leakage in fluorescein angiography. This type of CMO has been reported in some retinal dystrophies, in cases of maculopathy as a side effect of certain drugs, and also in some systemic disorders. The exact mechanism and treatment options for this type of CMO are still not clear. This literature review aims to discuss different causes of non-leaking CMO, proposed mechanisms, and management options. Three sections including drugs, retinal dystrophies, and systemic disorders are discussed in this review.

Taxane-Induced Neuropathy and Its Ocular Effects-A Longitudinal Follow-up Study in Breast Cancer Patients

A common severe neurotoxic side effect of breast cancer (BC) therapy is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and intervention is highly needed for the detection, prevention, and treatment of CIPN at an early stage. As the eye is susceptible to neurotoxic stimuli, the present study aims to determine whether CIPN signs in paclitaxel-treated BC patients correlate with ocular changes by applying advanced non-invasive biophotonic in vivo imaging. Patients (n = 14, 10 controls) underwent monitoring sessions after diagnosis, during, and after therapy (T0-T3). Monitoring sessions included general anamnesis, assessment of their quality of life, neurological scores, ophthalmological status, macular optical coherence tomography (OCT), and imaging of their subbasal nerve plexus (SNP) by large-area confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM). At T0, no significant differences were detected between patients and controls. During treatment, patients' scores significantly changed while the greatest differences were found between T0 and T3. None of the patients developed severe CIPN but retinal thickenings could be detected. CLSM revealed large SNP mosaics with identical areas while corneal nerves remained stable. The study represents the first longitudinal study combining oncological examinations with advanced biophotonic imaging techniques, demonstrating a powerful tool for the objective assessment of the severity of neurotoxic events with ocular structures acting as potential biomarkers.

Macular oedema associated with taxanes: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Although taxanes are a frequently used group of chemotherapy agents, they can, rarely, lead to macular oedema. The purpose of this article is to review and communicate, in an integrated way, the data of the cases previously reported in the literature, as well as to present a new case.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Narrative review of reports of cases of macular oedema associated with taxanes, and communication of the clinical case of a 73-year-old woman who, after treatment with paclitaxel for metastatic breast cancer, developed macular oedema that disappeared after discontinuing the drug.

RESULTS

The review included 57 cases with data from 109 eyes collected in 52 articles. The large majority (76.79%) of the cases were women, and the mean age was 58.75 years. The cancer that most frequently motivated the treatment was breast cancer (60.72%), and 92.5% of cases had metastases. The most frequently associated drug was paclitaxel (52.63%). The median time to symptom development was 4.25 months. At the initial examination, 92.86% of the cases had bilateral oedema and the mean visual acuity was 0.4 (decimal scale). The mean macular thickness was 509.63 microns, and 97.83% of the eyes had no or minimal angiographic findings. In 90.57% of the cases, the treatment with taxanes was interrupted, and some other treatment was used in 43.86% of the cases, with the most widely used being acetazolamide. The outcome was favourable, to a greater or lesser extent, in 96.23% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite being a rare entity, macular oedema associated with the use of taxanes is a disorder that every oncologist and ophthalmologist should be aware of, taking into account the good outcome of the condition that usually occurs when treatment is suspended.

Visual Pathway Degeneration in Chemotherapy-Related Neurotoxicity: A Review and Directions for Future Research

Chemotherapy-related neurotoxicity (CRNT) is an emerging public health concern. Visual pathway degeneration may be a symptom of CRNT. We surveyed the current literature for evidence of visual pathway degeneration in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed. Six published articles met our inclusion criteria. The studies showed reduced retinal thickness, primarily in the retinal nerve fibre layer, and impaired inner retinal function in patients receiving chemotherapy. In summary, the current literature suggests chemotherapy may induce visual pathway degeneration. Future research may benefit from improving study design, exploring mechanisms of chemotherapy-related visual pathway degeneration, and incorporating these findings into biomarker development.

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant in cystoid macular edema secondary to paclitaxel therapy

Purpose

To report the first case of cystoid macular edema (CME) induced by nabpaclitaxel treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implant.

Observations

A 67 year-old man diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic cancer presented with decreased vision in both eyes while receiving nab-paclitaxel. He was diagnosed with CME and intravitreal dexamethasone implants were administered in both eyes. Central retinal thickness (CRT) of both eye decreased 1 month after the implant but CME persisted. 2 months after Ozurdex implant nabpaclitaxel was discontinued, improving central macular thickness and the CME significantly in both eyes.

Conclusion and importance

Cessation of nab-paclitaxel could lead to resolution of CME more than intravitreal dexamethasone implant, although intravitreal dexamethasone implant achieved some reduction in central macular thickness.

Current status of eye disorders caused by docetaxel administration every 3 weeks: A case-control study in Japanese patients

PURPOSE

Docetaxel is known to cause eye disorders. In this study, current status of eye disorders caused by docetaxel administration every 3 weeks in Japanese patients was examined.

METHODS

This case-control study targeted patients who were newly administered docetaxel at the Kyoto Okamoto Memorial Hospital between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2018. Eye disorder occurrence was defined as an event in which the pharmacist confirmed the symptoms in a patient interview and the ophthalmologist diagnosed the disorder.

RESULTS

Of the 89 subjects, 7 (7.9%) had eye disorders. The symptoms were watering eyes (7.9%), a stye and eye discharge (2.2% each), corneal and conjunctival disorder, visual acuity reduction, and blepharedema (1.1% each). Four patients who presented with watering eyes, eye discharge, or corneal and conjunctival disorder showed improvement with the use of eye drops such as artificial tears. Two patients who presented with a stye showed improvement with the use of oral cefcapene. One patient with mild symptoms showed spontaneous improvement. However, one patient had irreversible visual acuity reduction. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a cumulative docetaxel dose of ≥300 mg/m² (odds ratio: 15.50, 95% confidence interval: 1.37-175.00, p = 0.027) and concomitant cyclophosphamide use (odds ratio: 13.20, 95% confidence interval: 1.13-153.00, p = 0.039) were significant risk factors associated with eye disorders.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it was determined that docetaxel-related eye disorders might be influenced by the cumulative dose of docetaxel and concomitant cyclophosphamide use. In addition, relatively mild symptoms improved with medication.

Taxane Induced Cystoid Macular Edema: Case Report and Integrated Pathogenic Theory

PURPOSE

To report a case of a 73-year-old man who presented with decreased visual acuity due to bilateral macular edema after paclitaxel administration for prostate cancer.

METHODS

The ophthalmic evaluation consisted of medical and ocular history, Best Corrected Visual Acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography / Fluorescein Angiography.

RESULTS

Optical Coherence Tomography and Fluorescein Angiography revealed silent cystoid macular edema. After consulting with the oncologist, the cessation of paclitaxel therapy was decided. The patient presented a gradual but steady resumption of the retinal edema, with complete restoration of normal retinal morphology and function within two months. The pathogenesis of the silent Cystoid Macular Edema (CME) is still unclear. Based on our case and a critical review of the previous observations and published data, we propose that the underlying cause of Taxane induced CME is the functional failure of Aquaporin mediated water transport at the level of retinal Intermediate and Deep capillary plexuses, and at lesser extent at the level of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium.

CONCLUSION

Taxane induced silent CME should be attributed to the action of Taxanes on the microtubule guided aquaporin vesicles transport to the cell membrane. In our case of Taxane induced silent CME, withdrawal of the taxane was enough for complete recovery, and no additional treatment was needed.