CATASTROPHIC, BILATERAL RETINAL VASCULAR OCCLUSION AFTER INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB INJECTION

Abstract

Purpose: 

To describe two cases of catastrophic, bilateral retinal vascular occlusion after intravitreal (IVT) bevacizumab injection.

Methods: 

Case series. Main outcome measures included clinical and fluorescein angiography findings.

Results: 

Case 1—A 65-year-old woman with calcinosis, Raynaud phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasis syndrome developed acute, severe, bilateral visual loss 2 weeks after bilateral IVT bevacizumab injection for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Examination and fluorescein angiography revealed moderate anterior chamber inflammation, bilateral perivascular retinal hemorrhages, and near total retinal vascular occlusion. Extensive testing revealed moderately elevated anti-B2 glycoprotein (antiphospholipid) antibodies. Case 2—An 85-year-old man with polymyalgia rheumatica and left eye exudative age-related macular degeneration experienced severe, bilateral, sequential visual loss in the left eye and then right eye approximately 3 weeks after IVT bevacizumab left eye injection. Examination revealed bilateral panuveitis, diffuse perivascular exudates, and intraretinal hemorrhages. Fluorescein angiography showed diffuse venous leakage. Extensive testing revealed an elevated antinuclear antibody and mildly elevated anticardiolipin antibody.

Conclusion: 

Patients with underlying retinal vascular vulnerabilities may be at increased risk of catastrophic, bilateral retinal vascular occlusion after treatment with IVT bevacizumab. The moderate-to-severe intraocular inflammation in both cases and the contralateral involvement after unilateral IVT injection in Case 2 suggest a possible delayed immune-mediated mechanism.

In Brief

A woman with calcinosis, Raynaud phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasis syndrome; systemic hypertension; and proliferative diabetic retinopathy and a man with systemic hypertension, polymyalgia rheumatica, and neovascular age-related macular degeneration developed bilateral extensive retinal vascular occlusion with intraretinal hemorrhages after bilateral and unilateral intravitreal bevacizumab injections, respectively. Catastrophic retinal vascular occlusion can occur after intravitreal bevacizumab.