Acute retinal necrosis following intravitreal dexamethasone (Ozurdex®) implant

• Main Authors: Murat Kucukevcilioglu, Mustafa Eren, Umit Yolcu, Gungor Sobaci
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Conselho Brasileiro de Oftalmologia 2015-04-01
• Series: Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia
• Subjects: Síndrome de necrose retiniana aguda; Imunossupressão; Injeções intravítreas/métodos; Dexametasona/administração & dosagem; Relatos de casos
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-27492015000200013&lng=en&tlng=en

A 52-year-old woman undergoing azathioprine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis developed acute retinal necrosis a month after intravitreal dexamethasone (Ozurdex ®) implantation for posterior uveitis in the left eye. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) DNA was detected in the anterior chamber and vitreous samples on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Retinal detachment occurred despite systemic and intravitreal antiviral therapy. Favorable structural and functional outcomes were achieved after retinal surgery with silicone oil. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of acute retinal necrosis following placement of an Ozurdex® implant. Physicians practicing Ozurdex® implantations should be aware of this unusual but devastating complication. Extra caution and frequent follow-up are required in all immunocompromised patients receiving Ozurdex® implantation.