Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

BRIEF REPORT
Year
: 2005  |  Volume : 53  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 132--134

Acute bilateral central serous chorioretinopathy following intra-articular injection of corticosteroid


Lakshmi Kanta Mondal1, Krishnendu Sarkar2, Himadri Datta2, Pradip Ranjan Chatterjee1,  
1 Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research, S S K M Hospital, Kolkata, India
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Kolkata, India

Correspondence Address:
Krishnendu Sarkar
20/4, N.S.C Bose Road, Graham�SQ�s Land, Kolkata - 700 040
India

Abstract

There is increasing evidence in the literature implicating the use of exogenous steroids through various routes as a risk factor for the development of idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (ICSC). We report a case of acute bilateral ICSC following intra-articular injection of corticosteroids.



How to cite this article:
Mondal LK, Sarkar K, Datta H, Chatterjee PR. Acute bilateral central serous chorioretinopathy following intra-articular injection of corticosteroid.Indian J Ophthalmol 2005;53:132-134


How to cite this URL:
Mondal LK, Sarkar K, Datta H, Chatterjee PR. Acute bilateral central serous chorioretinopathy following intra-articular injection of corticosteroid. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2005 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];53:132-134
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2005/53/2/132/16181


Full Text

The aetio-pathogenesis of idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (ICSC) remains incompletely understood and a long list of risk factors has been associated with the development of the disease. In recent years, clinical and experimental evidence has clearly identified corticosteroids as a risk factor for acute manifestations of ICSC. [1] Systemic diseases associated with a state of hypercortisolism, such as Cushing syndrome, have been implicated in the development of ICSC. The use of exogenous corticosteroids through a number of routes, such as systemic, inhaled, intranasal and epidural injection has been reported to precipitate the disease. [1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6] This report describes a patient who developed acute bilateral ICSC following a single intra-articular injection of corticosteroids (Triamcinolone acetonide).

 Case Report



A 43-year-old woman with controlled hypertension presented with severe impairment of vision in her both eyes, one day following an intra-articular injection of 1 ml triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg) in her right wrist joint for chronic tenosynovitis. On the day of presentation, ocular examination revealed her best corrected visual acuity to be 6/60 in both eyes. The anterior segments were normal on slitlamp biomicroscopy. Fundus examination with +90 D lens revealed bilateral symmetrical serous retinal detachment of macula [Figure 1]. Fluorescein angiography showed two focal leakages from retinal pigment epithelium in both eyes in the early phase [Figure 2], and subsequent accumulation of dye beneath the sensory retinal detachment but not extending beyond the borders of the detachment in later phase [Figure 3], consistent with ICSC. She was advised to avoid corticosteroid therapy in any form. Her serous retinal detachment resolved, confirmed by fluorescein angiography [Figure 4] Her best corrected visual acuity improved to 6/6 in both eyes simultaneously without any ocular treatment over a period of five weeks.

 Discussion



There is increasing evidence in the literature supporting an association between exogenous corticosteroid therapy and ICSC. [1] The mechanism by which corticosteroids influence the development of ICSC is unclear. Several authors have postulated that cortisol modulates the development of ICSC [1], [3], [4] by inhibiting collagen synthesis, and increasing choriocapillaries permeability thus altering ion transport across retinal pigment epithelium(RPE). But convincing evidence regarding their direct contribution to the development of ICSC is still lacking.

The association between glucocorticoids and ICSC is reported to be common in women. Quillen et al [7] in their review of 51 women with ICSC have reported that 13 (25%) of them were on exogenous corticosteroids for various reasons. Gass and Little [8] have described the association of corticosteroids with a more severe form of ICSC. These patients have been reported to be relatively older (average 48 years), with bilateral ICSC, subretinal fibrin, prolonged neurosensory retinal detachment and more than one leak on fluorecein angiography. [7], [8]

Though multiple routes of administration of corticosteroids have been reported to produce ICSC, the intra-articular route is not listed. [1]

In this patient, the clinical features were nearly similar to earlier reports of corticosteroid induced ICSC, i.e., acute bilateral bullous ICSC with multiple leaks on fluorescein angiography. [1], [7], [8] The only difference was that the neurosensory detachment in this case resolved much faster compared to earlier reports. This could possibly be due to the relatively short course of corticosteroid therapy in our patient in contrast to longer use in other reports. Thus, it may be presumed that the cumulative effects of corticosteroids influenced recovery time in this group of patients. We presume that rapid absorption of corticosteroid from the joint space and its subsequent effect on a compromised RPE in our patient could have precipitated bilateral acute ICSC. Our patient also had hypertension, which itself is considered a risk factor for development of ICSC. [4]

The possibility that the appearance ICSC coincided with the intra-articular injection, cannot be excluded though bilateral appearance and the clinical features typical of corticosteroid induced ICSC as reported in the literature, provide an indirect evidence to a cause-effect relationship between the intra-articular corticosteroid and ICSC.

References

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