Periocular triamcinolone acetonide injections for control of intraocular inflammation associated with uveitis

Corticosteroids for the Management of Uveitic Macular Edema: A Comprehensive Review

Uveitis, which refers to the inflammation of the uveal tract and surrounding structures in the eye, poses a significant risk of vision impairment, with macular edema (UME) being a prevalent complication. The current statement reviews UME's prevalence, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management strategies, focusing on the utility of systemic and local corticosteroid therapy. Corticosteroids, with their multifaceted effects on inflammatory pathways, serve as the cornerstone of UME treatment. Various administration routes, including topical, periocular, intraocular, and systemic, are employed based on the anatomical type and severity of inflammation. The efficacy of different corticosteroid formulations, such as difluprednate, triamcinolone acetonide, dexamethasone implant, and fluocinolone acetonide implant, is evaluated through clinical trials and retrospective studies. Additionally, the role of corticosteroid-sparing treatments, including antimetabolites like methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil, is explored. Emerging techniques, such as suprachoroidal space triamcinolone acetonide administration, offer promising alternatives for managing UME. Through a thorough examination of current evidence, this review provides valuable insights into optimizing the management of UME and improving visual outcomes in patients with uveitis.

Risk factors for failing sub-Tenon's triamcinolone acetonide for uveitic macular edema

BACKGROUND

Sub-Tenon's triamcinolone acetonide (STA) is less effective than intravitreal corticosteroids in the treatment of uveitic macular edema (ME), but does have some relative advantages, including substantially lower cost and decreased risk of post-injection ocular hypertension. It would be useful for clinicians to know which eyes may respond well to STA and not necessarily require intravitreal therapy. The objective of this study is to identify risk factors for failing STA for the treatment of uveitic ME.

MAIN BODY

A retrospective cohort study was performed. Medical records were reviewed of patients who underwent STA for the treatment of uveitic ME between January 1, 2013, and July 31, 2022, at the University of Colorado Hospital. Uveitic ME was defined by a central subfield thickness (CST) greater than 320 μm or the presence of intra-retinal cystoid spaces on optical coherence tomography (OCT), or by the presence of petaloid macular leakage on fluorescein angiography (FA). Data collected included age, race/ethnicity, sex, history of diabetes mellitus, anatomic classification of uveitis, use of corticosteroids, use of immunomodulatory therapy, presence of intra-retinal fluid on OCT, CST on OCT, and presence of petaloid macular leakage on FA. STA failure was defined as the need for additional therapy within 12 weeks of STA due to persistent or worsening uveitic ME. One hundred eighty eyes from 131 patients were included. Forty-two eyes (23.3%) were considered treatment failures. In univariate and multivariable analysis, higher baseline CST was associated with a higher likelihood of failing STA (OR 1.17 for each 30 μm increase in CST, P = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

STA, while not as potent as intravitreal corticosteroids for the treatment of uveitic ME, was still an effective therapy, particularly for patients with lower baseline CST. Given its lower side effect profile and cost compared to intravitreal treatments, clinicians could consider STA as an initial treatment for mild uveitic ME.

Subtenon Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection with Topical Anesthesia in Pediatric Non-Infectious Uveitis

INTRODUCTION

Subtenon triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog®; Bristol Myers Squibb) (STA) injections are commonly used in the treatment of adults in an outpatient setting. However, publications on detailing its outpatient use, safety, and efficacy in the pediatric population are scarce.

METHODS

We reviewed STA injections performed in children in the outpatient clinics at two tertiary centers from 2014 to 2020. All children were aged ≤ 18 years and had a diagnosis of non-infectious uveitis. STA injections were done using 0.5 cc (20 mg) triamcinolone injected superotemporally with only topical anesthesia. Data on the efficacy and safety of STA in treating inflammation and compiled data on visual acuity improvement and incidence of ocular complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

Forty-eight eyes in 30 patients were included. The mean age of patients was 13.1 (range 7-18) years. There were no immediate complications observed in all injections performed. At the 3-month follow-up, inflammation had improved in 85.4% of eyes, macular edema had resolved in 77.8% of eyes, and there was significant vision improvement after STA. At 6 months after STA, the incidence of ocular hypertension was 12.5% and no new cataracts had developed.

CONCLUSION

STA injection with topical anesthesia was a well-tolerated, reasonable alternative for short-term treatment of uveitis among this pediatric population.

Uveitis for the non-ophthalmologist

The uveitides are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by inflammation inside the eye. The uveitides are classified as infectious or non-infectious. The non-infectious uveitides, which are presumed to be immune mediated, can be further divided into those that are associated with a known systemic disease and those that are eye limited,-ie, not associated with a systemic disease. The ophthalmologist identifies the specific uveitic entity by medical history, clinical examination, and ocular imaging, as well as supplemental laboratory testing, if indicated. Treatment of the infectious uveitides is tailored to the particular infectious organism and may include regional and/or systemic medication. First line treatment for non-infectious uveitides is corticosteroids that can be administered topically, as regional injections or surgical implants, or systemically. Systemic immunosuppressive therapy is used in patients with severe disease who cannot tolerate corticosteroids, require chronic corticosteroids at >7.5 mg/day prednisone, or in whom the disease is known to respond better to immunosuppression. Management of many of these diseases is optimized by coordination between the ophthalmologist and rheumatologist or internist.

A Review of Local Therapy for the Management of Cystoid Macular Edema in Uveitis

ABSTRACT

Uveitic macular edema is a significant cause of visual impairment in most uveitis types. Treatment options of uveitis have advanced remarkably in recent years. Up to now, corticosteroids remain the mainstay of treatment. Nonsteroidal immunomodulators, and recently the biologic agents, which can reinforce efficacy and enable discontinuation or reduction of steroids to maintenance doses, are becoming increasingly popular in the management of uveitic macular edema. Several medications can be used in intraocular delivery and more and more sustained releasing implants are being developed. This review will briefly focus on the review of local therapy for the management of cystoid macular edema in uveitis, as many of these novel approaches are currently being evaluated in clinical trials.

Corticosteroids in ophthalmology: drug delivery innovations, pharmacology, clinical applications, and future perspectives

Corticosteroids remain the mainstay of the treatment for various ocular conditions affecting the ocular surface, anterior and posterior segments of the eye due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oedematous, and anti-neovascularization properties. Prednisolone, prednisolone acetate, dexamethasone, triamcinolone acetonide, fluocinolone acetonide, and loteprednol etabonate are amongst the most widely used ophthalmic corticosteroids. Corticosteroids differ in their activity and potency in the eye due to their inherent pharmacological and pharmaceutical differences. Different routes and regimens are available for ocular administration of corticosteroids. Conventional topical application to the eye is the route of choice when targeting diseases affecting the ocular surface and anterior segment, while periocular, intravitreal, and suprachoroidal injections can be potentially effective for posterior segment diseases. Corticosteroid-induced intraocular pressure elevation and cataract formation remain the most significant local risks following topical as well as systemic corticosteroid administration. Invasive drug administration via intracameral, subconjunctival, and intravitreal injection can enhance ocular bioavailability and minimize dose and dosing frequency of administration, yet may exacerbate ocular side effects of corticosteroids. This review provides a critical appraisal of the ophthalmic uses of corticosteroid, routes of administration, drug delivery fundamentals and novel ocular implantable steroid delivery systems, factors influencing side effects, and future perspectives for ocular corticosteroid therapy.

Suprachoroidally injected pharmacological agents for the treatment of chorio-retinal diseases: a targeted approach

Delivery of pharmaceuticals to the posterior segment presents challenges that arise from the anatomy and clearance pharmacokinetics of the eye. Systemic and several local administration options [topical, periocular, intravitreal (IVT) and subretinal] are in clinical use, each with a unique benefit to risk profile shaped by factors including the administered agent, frequency of dosing, achievable pharmaceutical concentrations within posterior segment structures versus elsewhere in the eye or the body, invasiveness of the procedure and the inherent challenges with some administration methods. The use of the suprachoroidal space (SCS), which is the region between the sclera and the choroid, is being explored as a potential approach to target pharmacotherapies to the posterior segment via a minimally invasive injection procedure. Preclinical data on agents such as vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) indicate that administration via suprachoroidal injection results in more posterior distribution of the pharmacologic agent, with higher exposure to the sclera, choroid, retinal pigment epithelium cells and retina, and lesser exposure to the anterior segment, than observed with IVT administration. Based in part on these findings, clinical trials have explored the efficacy and safety of suprachoroidal administration of pharmacologic therapies in conditions affecting the posterior segment. Data on a proprietary formulation of TA administered by suprachoroidal injection show improvement in anatomic and visual outcomes in subjects with noninfectious uveitis, with the potential to mitigate the known risks of cataract and increased intraocular pressure (IOP) associated with the use of intraocular corticosteroids. Suprachoroidal administration appears to be a promising treatment modality and is also in the early stages of investigation for other possible applications, such as injection of antiglaucoma agents into the anterior SCS for long-lasting control of elevated IOP, and as a mode of delivery for gene- or cell-based therapies for retinal disorders.

Real-world evidence of treatment for relapse of noninfectious uveitis in tertiary centers in Japan: A multicenter study

Noninfectious uveitis (NIU), which pathogenesis is often autoimmune nature, occurs as a symptom of systemic syndromes or only in the eye. The standard treatment of NIU is local, topical, and oral administration of corticosteroids (CS) in combination with immunomodulatory therapy (IMT). However, additional therapeutic strategies involving topical and systemic administration of CS or others to treat relapse or exacerbation of ocular inflammation in NIU which present as various ocular manifestations have not been established. The aim of this study was to investigate therapeutic strategies used for various ocular inflammations in relapse or exacerbation of NIU and to evaluate factors associated with the treatment pattern in Japan. The subjects were 198 eyes of 156 NIU patients with relapse or exacerbation of ocular inflammation at 6 university hospitals in Japan. The most frequent disease was sarcoidosis in 23.7% of the cases, followed by Behçet disease (BD) in 21.2%, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease in 13.6%, acute anterior uveitis (AAU) in 5.6%, tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome (TINU) in 4.0%, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis in 3.0%. Common ocular findings were worsened anterior inflammation (AI) in 67.2% of the cases, vitreous opacity (VO) in 46.5%, macular edema (ME) in 26.8%, retinal vasculitis (RV) in 23.7%, serous retinal detachment (SRD) in 9.1%, and optic perineuritis (OPN) in 4.0%. Reinforcement of betamethasone eye drop (ED) monotherapy for only AI in both unilateral and bilateral AI, sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide (STTA) for unilateral posterior inflammation including VO and ME, and systemic therapy using CS and/or IMT for bilateral anterior and posterior inflammation were significantly more frequent. Frequencies of exacerbated individual ocular findings in sarcoidosis and BD were similar, and severe ocular inflammation associated with panuveitis required both topical and systemic therapies. These results demonstrate that reinforcement of betamethasone EDs, topical administration of triamcinolone acetonide, and long-term administration of systemic corticosteroids are the major therapeutic strategies, and reinforcement of betamethasone EDs was used for exacerbated AI independently from its use for posterior inflammation. In addition, STTA was preferentially used for VO and ME associated with posterior inflammation.

The burden of non-infectious intraocular inflammatory eye diseases: a systematic literature review

OBJECTIVE

Non-infectious inflammatory eye diseases (IEDs), although rare, are complex and varied and may result in detrimental effects. A systematic literature review was conducted on the clinical outcome and economic burden of IED.

METHODS

The Ovid search platform (Wolters Kluwer) was used to access scientific literature databases, including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane libraries, Health Technology Assessment and the NHS Economic Evaluation database. The search strategy targeted clinical and economic outcomes research in 2009-2016. Titles and abstracts resulting from inclusion criteria were screened, and two reviewers independently extracted relevant information from the selected full-text articles.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine papers met the inclusion criteria - 21 clinical trials, 7 database analyses, 6 non-systematic literature reviews with expert commentary, 3 chart reviews, and 2 surveys - which assessed steroids, immunosuppressants, implants and biologics. Patients experienced considerable morbidity, much of which was associated with corticosteroid use. The average annual healthcare costs of patients with IED were $13,728 to $32,268 in 2009 US dollars, which amounted to 3.1 to 8.3 times that of patients without IED. Steroid-releasing intraocular implants were associated with higher up-front costs, close monitoring requirements, potential for implant removal and increased rates of adverse ocular events than systemic steroids.

CONCLUSIONS

IEDs are rare and complex conditions that threaten eyesight and impose considerable morbidity as well as a substantial economic burden. This review confirms that further research is needed to more fully explore the burden of IED and treatment-related adverse events, as well as appropriate means for clinicians to intensify treatment.

Management of chronic ocular sarcoidosis: challenges and solutions

Background

Sarcoidosis constitutes one of the leading causes of ocular inflammation. Chronic ocular sarcoidosis can affect any segment of the eye and its adnexa, producing a wide range of clinical manifestations and severity. If left untreated, permanent visual impairment or even blindness may ensue. Treatment approaches vary from topical therapy to systemic agents that induce immunosuppression to different levels according to disease severity.

Objective

To review the published literature on the management options for chronic ocular sarcoidosis and provide a comprehensive list of available treatment strategies, including the newer biologics.

Summary

Ocular disease remains a challenging aspect of sarcoidosis and may even be the presenting sign of the disease. Prompt and effective therapy may reverse visual damage and prevent permanent loss of vision. Because of the complexity of the disease, a multidisciplinary approach is often required, with a view to addressing both the ocular and other systemic manifestations of sarcoidosis. Recent data suggest that achieving overall optimal systemic control is of paramount importance in controlling eye inflammation as well. Cytotoxic immunosuppressive agents for refractory chronic ocular disease, as well as biologic anti-TNFα therapies, have advanced the management of chronic disease and should be considered corticosteroid-sparing strategies before the onset of significant steroid-induced morbidity.

Quantitative analysis of vitreous inflammation using optical coherence tomography in patients receiving sub-Tenon's triamcinolone acetonide for uveitic cystoid macular oedema

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To evaluate the vitreous signals obtained on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with uveitic cystoid macular oedema (CMO) and compare these signals before and after sub-Tenon's triamcinolone acetonide injection.

METHODS

Retrospective study with standardised longitudinal imaging preintervention and postintervention. The study cohort comprises 22 patients (22 eyes) with uveitic CMO receiving a sub-Tenon's triamcinolone acetonide (STTA) injection. Post hoc analysis of SD-OCT images using custom software provided an 'absolute' measurement of vitreous signal intensity, which was expressed as a ratio to the retinal pigment epithelium intensity ('VIT/RPE-relative intensity') in arbitrary units.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Difference in VIT/RPE-relative intensity before and after treatment.

RESULTS

Treatment with STTA resulted in a significant reduction in VIT/RPE-relative intensity, which was associated with both a reduction in central retinal thickness (CRT) and improvement in visual acuity. Mean (SD) VIT/RPE-relative intensity pretreatment was 0.139 (0.074) versus 0.053 (0.028) post-treatment (p=3×10^-5). Mean (SD) CRT was 581 μm (119 μm) pretreatment versus 333 μm (95 μm) post-treatment (p=2×10^-8); the mean reduction in CRT was 248 (95% CI 189 to 306). The correlation coefficient between VIT/RPE-relative intensity and CRT was 0.534 (p=0.011) and between VIT/RPE-relative intensity and visual acuity was 0.702 (p=0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that the OCT-derived VIT/RPE-relative intensity may be useful as a quantitative and objective marker of disease activity and treatment response in uveitis complicated by CMO. This first longitudinal study of this novel OCT parameter is an encouraging step in the development of sensitive objective OCT-based endpoints for trials of efficacy in uveitis.

Equine recurrent uveitis: Human and equine perspectives

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a spontaneous disease characterised by repeated episodes of intraocular inflammation. The epidemiology of ERU has not been fully elucidated, but the condition appears to be much more common in horses than is recurrent uveitis in humans, especially in certain breeds and geographical regions. Both humans and horses show a similarly altered immune response and a marked autoimmune response as the primary disease pathophysiology. However, an inciting cause is not always clear. Potential inciting factors in horses include microbial agents such as Leptospira spp. Microbial factors and genetic predisposition to the disease may provide clues as to why the horse appears so susceptible to this disease. The aim of this review is to discuss the immunology and genetics of ERU, compare the disease in horses with autoimmune anterior uveitis in humans, and discuss potential reasons for the increased prevalence in the horse.

Intracellular delivery of dendrimer triamcinolone acetonide conjugates into microglial and human retinal pigment epithelial cells

Triamcinolone acetonide (TA) is a potent, intermediate-acting, steroid that has anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activity. Intravitreal administration of TA has been used for diabetic macular edema, proliferative diabetic retinopathy and exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the hydrophobicity, lack of solubility, and the side effects limit its effectiveness in the treatment of retinal diseases. In this study, we explore a PAMAM dendrimer-TA conjugate (D-TA) as a potential strategy to improve intracellular delivery and efficacy of TA to target cells. The conjugates were prepared with a high drug payload (∼ 21%) and were readily soluble in saline. Compared to free TA, D-TA demonstrated a significantly improved toxicity profile in two important target [microglial and human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)] cells. The D-TA was ∼ 100-fold more effective than free TA in its anti-inflammatory activity (measured in microglia), and in suppressing VEGF production (in hypoxic RPE cells). Dendrimer-based delivery may improve the efficacy of TA towards both its key targets of inflammation and VEGF production, with significant clinical implications.

Periocular corticosteroid injections in uveitis: effects and complications

PURPOSE

To evaluate the benefits and complications of periocular depot corticosteroid injections in patients with ocular inflammatory disorders.

DESIGN

Multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 914 patients (1192 eyes) who had received ≥ 1 periocular corticosteroid injection at 5 tertiary uveitis clinics in the United States.

METHODS

Patients were identified from the Systemic Immunosuppressive Therapy for Eye Diseases Cohort Study. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained at every visit via medical record review by trained reviewers.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Control of inflammation, improvement of visual acuity (VA) to ≥ 20/40, improvement of VA loss attributed to macular edema (ME), incident cataract affecting VA, cataract surgery, ocular hypertension, and glaucoma surgery.

RESULTS

Among 914 patients (1192 eyes) who received ≥ 1 periocular injection during follow-up, 286 (31.3%) were classified as having anterior uveitis, 303 (33.3%) as intermediate uveitis, and 324 (35.4%) as posterior or panuveitis. Cumulatively by ≤ 6 months, 72.7% (95% CI, 69.1-76.3) of the eyes achieved complete control of inflammation and 49.7% (95% CI, 45.5-54.1) showed an improvement in VA from <20/40 to ≥ 20/40. Among the subset with VA <20/40 attributed to ME, 33.1% (95% CI, 25.2-42.7) improved to ≥ 20/40. By 12 months, the cumulative incidence of ≥ 1 visits with an intraocular pressure of ≥ 24 mmHg and ≥ 30 mmHg was 34.0% (95% CI, 24.8-45.4) and 15.0% (95% CI, 11.8-19.1) respectively; glaucoma surgery was performed in 2.4% of eyes (95% CI, 1.4-3.9). Within 12 months, among phakic eyes initially ≥ 20/40, the incidence of a reduction in VA to <20/40 attributed to cataract was 20.2% (95% CI, 15.9-25.6); cataract surgery was performed within 12 months in 13.8% of the initially phakic eyes (95% CI, 11.1-17.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Periocular injections were effective in treating active intraocular inflammation and in improving reduced VA attributed to ME in a majority of patients. The response pattern was similar across anatomic locations of uveitis. Overall, VA improved in one half of the patients at some point within 6 months. However, cataract and ocular hypertension occurred in a substantial minority.