Persistent Inflammation Associated With HLA-B27 After Pars Plana Vitrectomy With Scleral Buckle Placement

Purpose: To report 2 cases of persistent inflammation associated with human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27) after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with scleral buckling. Methods: Two cases were analyzed. Results: A 47-year-old man had pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), scleral buckle (SB) placement, and endolaser for a macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). A 61-year-old man also had uneventful PPV, SB placement, and endolaser for a macula-off RRD. Postoperatively, both patients reported eye pain and had persistent intraocular inflammation. Both were found to be HLA-B27 positive despite having no previous signs or symptoms that would warrant HLA-B27 testing. Conclusions: Discovering the source of prolonged postoperative inflammation is critical in initiating the correct treatment and removing suspicion of infection. Although intraocular inflammation associated with HLA-B27 does not often present initially after surgery, HLA-B27 testing should be considered in cases of persistent, unexpected postoperative inflammation.

Evaluating exaggerated, prolonged, or delayed postoperative intraocular inflammation

PURPOSE

To provide a diagnostic approach for the evaluation of patients with exaggerated, prolonged, or delayed postoperative intraocular inflammation.

DESIGN

Perspective.

METHODS

Selected articles on normal and abnormal postoperative intraocular inflammation were reviewed and interpreted in the context of the authors' clinical and research experience.

RESULTS

In addition to infectious endophthalmitis, a number of noninfectious conditions characterized by exaggerated, prolonged, or delayed postoperative inflammation have been described. Heuristically, increased postsurgical inflammation may be categorized by time from surgery to first recognition using the following general guidelines: as immediate and occurring within 2 days after surgery; as early and occurring after 2 days, but within the first 2 weeks, after surgery; and as delayed and occurring more than 2 weeks after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Although infectious endophthalmitis always must be excluded as a cause of increased postoperative intraocular inflammation, potential noninfectious causes also exist. We review both infectious and noninfectious causes of increased postoperative inflammation and provide a diagnostic framework for evaluating such patients.