Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection for the treatment of posterior uveitis.

PURPOSE

To assess the efficacy and complications of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) injection in the treatment of posterior uveitis and to compare the outcomes with patients who had received systemic corticosteroids.

METHODS

This prospective, interventional, clinical case series study included 11 eyes of 9 patients who received 8 mg/0.2 ml of IVTA injection for posterior uveitis that involved vitreous inflammation (group 1). Control group (group 2) consisted of 15 eyes of 12 patients who had received systemic corticosteroids for treatment of posterior uveitis with vitreous inflammation. The main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity, vitreous inflammation score and intraocular pressure.

RESULTS

In group 1, mean visual acuity improved significantly (P < 0.001) from a mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) value of 2.05 +/- 0.82 at baseline to a maximum of 0.33 +/- 0.22 during the follow-up period of 5.0 +/- 2.8 months. In control group, mean LogMAR visual acuity before systemic corticosteroid therapy was 1.82 +/- 0.78, and it has reached a maximum of 0.40 +/- 0.22 after treatment (P < 0.001). The mean inflammatory scores decreased significantly in both groups when compared with preinjection values (for each, P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between group 1 and group 2 when pre-and posttreatment visual acuities and inflammatory scores at 1-, 3-, and 5-month follow-up examinations were compared (for each, P > 0.05). In group 1, mean intraocular pressure (IOP) increased significantly from 13.4 +/- 2.6 mmHg to a mean maximal value of 19.3 +/- 4.3 mmHg (P < 0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference between mean IOP at 5-month after IVTA injection and pretreatment value (P = 0.06). Cataract progression was observed in one eye.

CONCLUSIONS

IVTA application may be an alternative therapeutic option for the treatment of acute posterior uveitis that involves vitreous inflammation, especially in patients who carry risks for systemic corticosteroid therapy.