Purpose: To report the significant worsening of Vitreomacular Traction (VMT), following the intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab (Avastin) in an Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) eye; thereby raising the awareness of this possibility. Method: Retrospective observational case report. Results: After 3 monthly doses of intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg/0.05 cc bevacizumab for treatment of AMD, a post injection OCT revealed the presence of VMT and an increased central macular thickness (CMT) by additional 268 microns compared to pre injection levels. Conclusion: Worsening of VMT and increase in CMT following injection of intravitreal drugs can occur. This VMT worsening effect of intravitreal injections is under recognized. It demands greater attention since it is seen with a new common route of ocular drug delivery and may be responsible for cases of pharmacological failure.
There is evidence to support the clinical association of age related macular degeneration (AMD) and vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) or vitreomacular traction (VMT); also this association occurs commonly [
A 69-year-old female who had been attending routine clinic visits for the monitoring of non-exudative AMD for 8 years noticed a reduction in her right eye vision. At presentation 8 years ago, her unaided visual acuity was OD 6/24 and OS 6/60. With a hyperopic correction (OD + 2.00 DS and OS + 2.50 DS) she improved to 6/5 in both eyes. There were early cataracts in both eyes, but the rest of the anterior segment was normal. The significant finding upon dilated funduscopy was the presence of few scattered drusen in the macular area in both eyes.
By the sixth year of her follow up, she was noted to have significant increase in the number of drusen, which were now soft and confluent. There was also an increase in the degree of cataract, more in the right eye. Cataract surgery was contemplated and discussed. Her vision progressively deteriorated in both eyes, but was worse in the right eye.
At her most recent clinic visit she could now see OD 6/12 and OS 6/9 (with her correction). This visual decline was as a result of the combined effect of cataract and deteriorating macular degenerative changes, which had converted to a wet AMD in the OD.
Investigation: Fundus photograph: revealed presence of multiple soft confluent drusen in both eyes, significantly more in the right eye (
OCT: OD: Dome shaped foveal elevation, significant sub retinafluid accumulation with increased central macular thickness (CMT) to 610 microns. There were degenerative changes in the outer retina. The vitreous was seen to have detached and above the dome shaped elevation (
At the diagnosis of wet AMD and cataract in the OD, monthly intravitreal anti VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) was initiated as treatment. At this time, a right eye posterior vitreous separation was thought to have occurred based on the initial OCT findings. A regimen of three monthly bevacizumab (Avastin) was given in her OD. Her vision remained unchanged at the end of 3 months.
Post the 3 monthly intravitreal Avastin injection, a repeat OCT OD revealed a classic pattern of VMT, but now with a further increase in CMT by 268 microns to new levels of 878 microns. This was much higher than the pre injection CMT
(
No further intravitreal injection of Avastin was given after the third dose. As she was followed without treatment, a repeat OCT showed a decrease in CMT, but with VMT still present (
Intravitreal anti VEGF is established as the treatment of choice for wet AMD and its effectiveness and safety has been validated by several randomized trials. However this complication of intravitreal injections in AMD with VMT is not often discussed. Since VMT and VMA are common associations of AMD it is a potentially important complication and its incidence may be under estimated.
We propose a mechanical theory for this increase in CMT following intravitreal anti VEGF injection. This increase in CMT in this case presented was induced by the injection of the intravitreal Avastin, resulting in increasing vitreous mobility and vitreous traction. This worsened the initially missed VMT. The fact that cessation of the intravitreal drug resulted in a return of the CMT to pre injection level, further suggests that administration of the intravitreal drug was directly responsible for the worsening VMT and increase in CMT.
This case suggests that an often used route for administration of ocular pharmacotherapy in the treatment of AMD (ieintravitreal anti VEGF) may cause worsening of VMT when there is pre existing VMT or VMA. This finding is probably under recognized following intravitreal anti-VEGF use for the treatment of AMD. Considering that VMT is a well-recognized association of AMD, this observation is worthy of emphasis. This is especially so as VMT on its own may worsen AMD and ultimately result in anti VEGF treatment failure [
This vitreomacular tractional effect of the intravitreal injection of pharmacotherapy could hold true in all the other medical retina conditions in which intravitreal injection of drugs is done in a situation where there is pre existing VMA or VMT. This will include such conditions as diabetic macular edema, retina vein occlusion and some uveitic conditions (in which intravitreal injection of steroids is required) [
Worsening or formation of VMT in situation of AMD is a possible mechanism, which has been under recognized, responsible for treatment failures in cases of exudative AMD refractory to anti-VEGF therapy. This should be borne in mind, and intravitreal injections should be given with a possibility of worsening or increased CMT in the category of patients with AMD and VMT.
To conclude, Anti-VEGF drug injection in the setting of recognized VMA or VMT should be undertaken with caution. Prognosis may be guarded and a worsening of VMT may occur. More attention ought to be paid to vitreous examination in patients to be commenced on intravitreal pharmacotherapy than that is currently been done by retina physicians. This case report reflects this point. A more detailed evaluation of the vitreomacular attachments across a wider or broader area of the macular to better understand the pattern of vitreomacular attachment using the OCT and perhaps the B scan in some cases is advisable, at least before initiating anti-VEGF therapy.
Ogugua, O.N., Adekunle, H.O., Micheal, G.E., Fatai, O.B., Adunola, O., Olufemi, O., Mildred, U. and Ayodele, H. (2017) Vitreomacular Traction Post Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Age Re- lated Macular Degeneration. Open Journal of Ophthalmology, 7, 138-144. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojoph.2017.72019