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Published in: BMC Ophthalmology 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Case report

Vitreous opacities after intravitreal triamcinolone injection- a case report

Authors: Dhanashree Ratra, Vineet Ratra, Haard Shah

Published in: BMC Ophthalmology | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

We report occurrence of peculiar tiny white thread like vitreous opacities after intravitreal triamcinolone injection. These persisted without any change for over a year. We ascribe them to aggregation of triamcinolone crystals due to the purification methods.

Case presentation

Seven patients (8 eyes) with macular edema developed tiny whitish thread like opacities in the vitreous 2–3 months after undergoing an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide preparation containing benzyl alcohol as preservative. These opacities persisted unchanged for more than a year. The follow up ranged from 91 to 425 days. Vitreous tap was done in one patient which was negative for infection. All patients initially showed improvement but needed re-treatment for recurrence. One patient developed steroid induced rise in intraocular pressure. Microscopic examination of the drug revealed large string like aggregates of triamcinolone crystals.

Conclusions

We hypothesize the possibility of aggregation of triamcinolone crystals into string like structures probably due to the purification methods used during manufacture which led to these thread like opacities in the vitreous.
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Metadata
Title
Vitreous opacities after intravitreal triamcinolone injection- a case report
Authors
Dhanashree Ratra
Vineet Ratra
Haard Shah
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Ophthalmology / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2415
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-018-0818-y

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