MAR 18, 2010
Retina/Vitreous
This retrospective analysis of 736 patients receiving intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA) injections at a single center finds the incidence rate of viral retinitis to be 0.90 percent in patients with immune altering conditions, more than double the overall incidence of 0.41 percent. The authors attribute the higher incidence to multiple factors, including coexisting medical immunocompromising comorbidities, a higher dose with a longer duration of local immunosuppression in the vitreous, multiple injections, and previous viral retinitis. The authors suggest caution and additional follow-up in immunocompromised patients, even after apparent immune recovery, as well as ongoing antiviral prophylaxis both before and after IVTA injection in patients with a history of viral retinitis.