The effectiveness of subtenon triamcinolone injection for the treatment of macular edema in children with retinitis pigmentosa

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess the functional and anatomical results of subtenon triamcinolone injections in children with retinitis pigmentosa (PR) and cystic macular edema (CME), refractory to local carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Material and methods: We examined 11 children (9 girls, 2 boys) aged 9 to 17 years who underwent subtenon injections of triamcinolone (22 eyes). The follow-up period ranged from 1.6 to 33.1 months (average 9.711.6 months), the number of triamcinalone injections ranged from 1 to 11, averaging 3. Before and after injection, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the thickness and structure of the retina in the macular zone (optical coherence tomography [OCT] was performed by using the NIDEK RS-3000, Japan or the Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were assessed. Results: The CME height at the end of the observation period decreased in 10 cases (45.5%), and the average central retinal thickness decreased from 70 to 594 m (on average, 219.1183.4 m). In 12 eyes (54.5%), the CME height at the end of the observation period did not change significantly. BCVA improved in two eyes (9.1%) and did not change in the other cases. Two children (18%) developed ophthalmic hypertension in both eyes after two injections of triamcinalone. In one child, IOP returned to normal on the background of hypothetical therapy. In another child, due to non-compensation of IOP at the maximum hypotensive mode, sinus trabeculectomy was performed in both eyes, and IOP normalization was achieved. Conclusion: Subtenon injection of triamcinolone in children with CME against a background of PR is in most cases is an effective and safe method of treatment and can be recommended if carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are ineffective at reducing/ resorbing edema and maintaining or improving visual function. Considering that the action of triamcinolone is short lived, and its repeated injection is required, and the resorption of CME and an increase in visual acuity are not always achievable, it is necessary to continue the search for more effective treatment methods.