Intravitreal triamcinolone for macular diseases safe in study in Chinese patients

A single 4 mg bolus injection of intravitreal triamcinolone seemed to have no harmful effects on the corneal endothelium and caused only transient elevation of IOP in a study in Chinese patients with macular diseases. Because IOP elevations occurred as early as 1 week after triamcinolone injection, the study authors recommended early monitoring to detect elevations and prevent optic nerve damage.

C.K.M. Chan and colleagues at the Chinese University of Hong Kong administered a single bolus injection of 4 mg of intravitreal triamcinolone in 43 eyes of 43 Chinese patients with various macular diseases. Fourteen of those eyes with existing cataract underwent simultaneous phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. IOP was measured preoperatively and weekly during the first month after surgery, then monthly until 6 months postoperative.

Nine eyes had an IOP greater than 21 mm Hg. The mean maximum IOP in these eyes was 29.2 mm Hg, occurring at a mean of 5.2 weeks after injection. For these patients, an average of two glaucoma medications was used to control IOP. By the 6-month mark, IOP in all eyes had returned to normal without medication.

No significant endothelial cell loss was noted in the eyes that did not undergo cataract surgery at the time of triamcinolone injection.

The study is published in the June issue of Eye.