Sterile Inflammation after Intravitreal Injection of Aflibercept in a Korean Population

• Published in: Korean journal of ophthalmology Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 325 - 330
• Main Authors: Kim, Ju Young, You, Yong Sung, Kwon, Oh Woong, Kim, Soon Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Ophthalmological Society 01.10.2015; 대한안과학회
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Incidence; Intravitreal Injections; Macular Edema - drug therapy; Macular Edema - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Original; 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; 안과학; Aflibercept; Intravitreal injections; Sterile inflammation
• ISSN: 1011-8942; 2092-9382
• DOI: 10.3341/kjo.2015.29.5.325

To report the frequency and clinical features of sterile inflammation after intravitreal aflibercept injection in a Korean population. A single-center, retrospective study was performed in patients who received intravitreal aflibercept from July 2013 through January 2015. 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. 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.