Sustained Control from Recurring Non-Infectious Uveitic Macular Edema with 0.19 mg Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Implant - A Case Report

Abstract

In January 2013, a 54-year-old pseudophakic woman was referred to the ocular inflammation clinic with a diagnosis of panuveitis, already on oral cyclosporine (100 mg/day) since 2010. She was a monocular patient, with the left eye eviscerated due to trauma and secondary endophthalmitis in 1995. She had experienced similar recurring episodes between 2010 and 2013. Examination revealed best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/200. The anterior segment revealed the presence of flare and absence of cells. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was 11 mmHg. Fundus examination revealed the presence of anterior vitreous organization, exuberant cystoid macular edema (CME) and peripheral Dalen-Fuchs nodules with no activity. Systemic workup showed no changes, and a presumptive diagnosis of sympathetic ophthalmia was made. Initial therapy included topical and systemic corticosteroids. Cyclosporine was replaced with methotrexate (20 mg/week) due to nephrotoxicity. There was marked improvement in anterior inflammation and vitreous organization, but the ME remained exuberant (central ring thickness of 0.7 mm). Over the subsequent 4 years of follow-up, the patient received two intravitreous injections of a dexamethasone extended-release implant (Ozurdex^®), with normalization of macular thickness and improvement in visual acuity (VA), but ME recurred around 6 months post-injection. During this period, the patient also underwent three sub-tenon injections of triamcinolone, with marked improvement of ME, but ME recurred between 4 and 6 months after treatment. She was thus recommended for treatment with a fluocinolone extended-release implant (ILUVIEN^®). Post-implantation (3-year follow-up), she had controlled anterior inflammation without ME (central macular thickness of 248 µm). This case suggests that sustained control of inflammation enables better control of ME, and benefits may persist even after cessation of the direct anti-inflammatory effect of the implant. FUNDING: Alimera Sciences Ltd funded the Rapid Service Fees.

Keywords: Chronic idiopathic uveitis; Fluocinolone acetonide implant; Intraocular pressure; Macular edema; Visual acuity.

Fig. 1

Chronological evolution of macular edema during treatment. Isolated images correspond to macular edema immediately before treatment. Double images correspond to macular edema immediately before and after treatment. CME central macular thickness, DEX dexamethasone, FAc fluocinolone acetonide

Fig. 2

OCT scan of the patient’s right eye showing complete resolution of inflammation following the administration of FAc implant. FAc fluocinolone acetonide, OCT optical coherence tomography