Intravitreal Injections In Patients Research Articles

Intravitreale Injektionen bei Antikoagulation

The number of intravitreal injections has increased steadily over the past few years. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the safety of intravitreal injections in patients under concurrent oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy. 57 patients who underwent consecutively 80 intravitreal injections of Ranibizumab, Bevacizumab or triamcinolone were included in the study. The majority of the patients was treated with Ranibizumab and received antiplatelet therapy. Post-injection intra- or extraocular haemorrhages were documented. Small subconjunctival haemorrhages were noted in 45 % of the eyes. No patient experienced a subtotal subconjunctival or vitreous haemorrhage. There was no difference between patients who received oral anticoagulation and those with antiplatelet therapy. This study suggests that intravitreal injections can be performed without cessation of oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy.

Safety of Intravitreal Injections in Patients Receiving Warfarin Anticoagulation

To evaluate the safety of intravitreal Macugen (OSI/Eyetech, New York, New York, USA) injections among patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation. Retrospective chart review. A search was conducted for patients treated with intravitreal Macugen for choroidal neovascularization resulting from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Inclusion criteria included patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation in whom therapy was maintained. The review identified 31 patients (32 eyes) who underwent 102 intravitreal Macugen injections while receiving warfarin anticoagulation. The mean and median number of Macugen injections per patient was three. No intraoperative or immediate postoperative hemorrhagic complications were noted. One patient experienced an acute submacular hemorrhage 35 days after the third Macugen injection. There were no other hemorrhagic events among the remaining patients. The retrospective chart review of patients treated with intravitreal Macugen for choroidal neovascularization resulting from AMD while receiving warfarin therapy suggests that patients may undergo intravitreal injections safely without cessation of anticoagulation therapy.