PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of intravitreal Macugen (OSI/Eyetech, New York, New York, USA) injections among patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: A search was conducted for patients treated with intravitreal Macugen for choroidal neovascularization resulting from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Inclusion criteria included patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation in whom therapy was maintained. RESULTS: The review identified 31 patients (32 eyes) who underwent 102 intravitreal Macugen injections while receiving warfarin anticoagulation. The mean and median number of Macugen injections per patient was three. No intraoperative or immediate postoperative hemorrhagic complications were noted. One patient experienced an acute submacular hemorrhage 35 days after the third Macugen injection. There were no other hemorrhagic events among the remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS: The retrospective chart review of patients treated with intravitreal Macugen for choroidal neovascularization resulting from AMD while receiving warfarin therapy suggests that patients may undergo intravitreal injections safely without cessation of anticoagulation therapy.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of intravitreal Macugen (OSI/Eyetech, New York, New York, USA) injections among patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: A search was conducted for patients treated with intravitreal Macugen for choroidal neovascularization resulting from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Inclusion criteria included patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation in whom therapy was maintained. RESULTS: The review identified 31 patients (32 eyes) who underwent 102 intravitreal Macugen injections while receiving warfarin anticoagulation. The mean and median number of Macugen injections per patient was three. No intraoperative or immediate postoperative hemorrhagic complications were noted. One patient experienced an acute submacular hemorrhage 35 days after the third Macugen injection. There were no other hemorrhagic events among the remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS: The retrospective chart review of patients treated with intravitreal Macugen for choroidal neovascularization resulting from AMD while receiving warfarin therapy suggests that patients may undergo intravitreal injections safely without cessation of anticoagulation therapy.
Authors: Paolo S Silva; Jerry D Cavallerano; Jennifer K Sun; Lloyd M Aiello; Lloyd Paul Aiello Journal: Nat Rev Endocrinol Date: 2010-07-27 Impact factor: 43.330