Uveitis following intravitreal bevacizumab: a non-infectious cluster.

Authors: 
C.N. Kay; R.M. Tarantola; K.M. Gehrs; J.C. Folk; V.B. Mahajan; C. Boldt; N.A. Syed; S.R. Russell

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In this retrospective case series, the authors report seven cases of bevacizumab-related uveitis that occurred within a 4-month period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven eyes of six patients developed non-infectious uveitis following bevacizumab intravitreal injections in a cohort of 978 consecutive bevacizumab injections.

RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 74.6 years (range: 26 to 92). All patients developed symptom onset within 1 day of injection. Shared signs and symptoms included corneal edema, anterior chamber and vitreous cell, conjunctival injection, ocular pain, and lack of hypopyon. In all patients, visual acuity returned to within one line of baseline acuity. All seven eyes had been previously injected with bevacizumab, with a mean number of antecedent injections of 6.1 (range: 3 to 12).

CONCLUSION: A cluster of sterile bevacizumab-related uveitic reactions was described in this case series. Acute onset of symptoms, absence of hypopyon, a predominant anterior segment reaction, and prompt improvement on topical steroid therapy are useful clinical features distinguishing this uveitic syndrome from infectious endophthalmitis.

Citation: 
Kay CN, Tarantola RM, Gehrs KM, et al. "Uveitis following intravitreal bevacizumab: a non-infectious cluster." Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging. 2011;42(4):292-6.
PubMed ID: 
21800802
Year of Publication: 
2011