Korean J Ophthalmol.  2015 Oct;29(5):325-330. 10.3341/kjo.2015.29.5.325.

Sterile Inflammation after Intravitreal Injection of Aflibercept in a Korean Population

• Kim JY
• You YS
• Kwon OW
• Kim SH

• KMID: 2363806
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2015.29.5.325

Abstract

PURPOSE
To report the frequency and clinical features of sterile inflammation after intravitreal aflibercept injection in a Korean population.
METHODS
A single-center, retrospective study was performed in patients who received intravitreal aflibercept from July 2013 through January 2015.
RESULTS
A total of four cases of post-injection sterile inflammation were identified from 723 aflibercept injections in 233 patients. Patients presented 1 to 13 days after intravitreal aflibercept injection (mean, 5 days). The mean baseline visual acuity was 20 / 60, which decreased to 20 / 112 at diagnosis but ultimately recovered to 20 / 60. Three cases had inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber (mean, 2.25+; range, 0 to 4+), and all cases had vitritis (mean, 3+; range, 2+ to 4+). No patients had pain. Only one patient underwent anterior chamber sampling (culture negative) and injection of antibiotics. Three of four patients were treated with a topical steroid, and all experienced improvement in their symptoms and signs of inflammation.
CONCLUSIONS
The overall incidence of sterile inflammation after intravitreal aflibercept injection in a Korean population was 4 of 723 injections (0.55%), or 4 of 233 patients (1.79%). Sterile inflammation after intravitreal aflibercept injection typically presents without pain, and the visual outcomes are generally favorable.

Keyword

Aflibercept; Intravitreal injections; Sterile inflammation

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Intravitreal Injections
Macular Edema/*drug therapy/epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/*administration & dosage
Recombinant Fusion Proteins/*administration & dosage
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Treatment Outcome
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Visual Acuity
Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
Recombinant Fusion Proteins
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Fundus photo images and a slit lamp photo image of a 69-year-old male patient (case 1). (A) Baseline fundus photo image, taken prior to the eighth intravitreal aflibercept injection. (B) Slit-lamp photo image. (C) Fundus photo image on the day of presentation. (D) Fundus photo image after resolution of inflammation.

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