PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA) for the treatment of macular edema secondary to immune recovery uveitis (IRU) in patients with AIDS. DESIGN: Prospective, consecutive, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Eight eyes of 7 patients receiving 13 injections. METHODS: Prospective, consecutive, interventional case series of 13 injections involving 8 eyes in 7 patients who underwent an intravitreal injection of 20 mg decanted triamcinolone acetate for fluorescein angiographically proven IRU-related macular edema. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was vision (using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart). Other outcome measures included fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Visual acuity improved at all time points and was statistically significant at the 1-month and 3-month follow-up examinations. The average visual improvement was 3 lines at 3 months. Retinal volume and thickness improvement were statistically significant at all time points. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 9 months, and there were no cases of cytomegalovirus reactivation. CONCLUSIONS: Previous studies showed that treatment with sub-Tenon repository steroids for the treatment of macular edema of IRU was only marginally effective. However, the current study shows that IVTA can be an effective short-term treatment for macular edema secondary to IRU in patients with AIDS. Longer follow-up is needed to assess the durability of the effect and to monitor for longer-term complications and outcomes.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA) for the treatment of macular edema secondary to immune recovery uveitis (IRU) in patients with AIDS. DESIGN: Prospective, consecutive, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Eight eyes of 7 patients receiving 13 injections. METHODS: Prospective, consecutive, interventional case series of 13 injections involving 8 eyes in 7 patients who underwent an intravitreal injection of 20 mg decanted triamcinolone acetate for fluorescein angiographically proven IRU-related macular edema. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was vision (using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart). Other outcome measures included fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Visual acuity improved at all time points and was statistically significant at the 1-month and 3-month follow-up examinations. The average visual improvement was 3 lines at 3 months. Retinal volume and thickness improvement were statistically significant at all time points. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 9 months, and there were no cases of cytomegalovirus reactivation. CONCLUSIONS: Previous studies showed that treatment with sub-Tenon repository steroids for the treatment of macular edema of IRU was only marginally effective. However, the current study shows that IVTA can be an effective short-term treatment for macular edema secondary to IRU in patients with AIDS. Longer follow-up is needed to assess the durability of the effect and to monitor for longer-term complications and outcomes.