Intravitreal triamcinolone for treatment of complicated proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Background: We present a retrospective evaluation of the clinical outcome and complications associated with intravitreal injection of unaltered triamcinolone acetonide in conjunction with pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection for the treatment of complicated proliferative diabetic retinopathy with tractional retinal detachment and severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Methods: Thirteen eyes of 12 consecutive patients were identified from a computerized patient database. All eyes were operated on by the same surgeon and received 4 mg of unaltered, commercially available triamcinolone acetonide intravitreally, before silicone oil injection. The patients were followed for a mean of 4.7 months (range 1-15 months), and demographic as well as pertinent preoperative and postoperative clinical information was gathered. Results: At the last follow-up visit, vision had improved in 4 eyes, remained stable in 5 eyes, and worsened in 4 eyes. The retina was attached at the end of follow-up in 10 of the 13 eyes. Eight of the 13 eyes did not show any clinical signs of reproliferation or redetachment during the course of follow-up. The mean intraocular pressure did not increase (preoperative value was 10.8 ± 6.22 mm Hg with a range of 0-22 mm Hg; at last follow-up, mean pressure was 9.6 ± 3.86 mm Hg with a cumulative postoperative range of 0-26 mm Hg). Steroid crystals were visible at 1 month postoperatively in 3 eyes and did not hinder fundus examination significantly. Interpretation: The intravitreal injection of low-dose, unaltered triamcinolone acetonide in the setting of pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection for the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy and complicated proliferative diabetic retinopathy appears to be well tolerated. Further controlled study is needed to clearly define the potential beneficial effects of intravitreal steroids in these 2 disease processes.