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BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Year : 2014  |  Volume : 62  |  Issue : 5  |  Page : 619-622

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography documentation of a case of topiramate induced acute angle closure


Department of Glaucoma, Aravind-Ziess Centre for Excellence in Glaucoma, Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India

Date of Submission19-Apr-2013
Date of Acceptance25-Dec-2013
Date of Web Publication30-May-2014

Correspondence Address:
Arijit Mitra
Centre for Excellence in Glaucoma, Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Tirunelveli - 627 001, Tamil Nadu
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.129784

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  Abstract 

We present a case report of a 31-year-old female patient who presented to us with a 1 day history of acute bilateral eye pain, blurred vision and headache. She was found to have a myopic shift, raised intraocular pressure (IOP) and shallow anterior chambers in both eyes. She had been commenced on oral topiramate 1 week previously. A number of investigations, including anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) were done and a diagnosis of topiramate induced bilateral acute angle closure (TiAAC) was made. Topiramate was discontinued and she was managed with topical and oral antiglaucoma medications, topical steroids and cyclopegics. Her symptoms subsided dramatically at the next follow-up. The AS-OCT documentation revealed lucidly the improvement in her anterior chamber depth and anterior chamber angle parameters. Her IOP decreased, her myopic shift showed reversal and her AS-OCT findings revealed gross improvement in all the parameters angle opening distance, trabecular iris space area and scleral spur angle. This case report clearly shows with AS OCT documentation the changes which occur in the anterior segment in a case of TiAAC.

Keywords: Anterior segment optical coherence tomography, angle opening distance, angle recess area, myopic shift, shallow anterior chamber, topiramate induced bilateral acute angle closure, trabecular iris space area


How to cite this article:
Mitra A, Ramakrishnan R, Kader MA. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography documentation of a case of topiramate induced acute angle closure. Indian J Ophthalmol 2014;62:619-22

How to cite this URL:
Mitra A, Ramakrishnan R, Kader MA. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography documentation of a case of topiramate induced acute angle closure. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2014 [cited 2024 Mar 29];62:619-22. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2014/62/5/619/129784

Acute bilateral angle-closure glaucoma and myopia has been reported widely after the use of topiramate and the condition is usually reversible when the drug is discontinued. However, even though there have been case reports of topiramate induced bilateral acute angle closure (TiAAC) in the past, to the best of our knowledge no published Indian case report shows documented anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) evidence of the change in the anterior segment parameters pre- and post-treatment.


  Case Report Top


This was a case of a 31-year-old female patient who presented to us with a 1 day history of acute bilateral eye pain, blurred vision and headache. Her headache was similar in nature to her chronic daily headaches for which she and been commenced on tablet epimate (25 mg) (topiramate) OD orally by her neurologist 1 week prior to presentation.

At presentation, she was found to have blurred vision with an unaided visual acuity of 4/60 in both eyes. On refraction, a myopic shift in a previously emmetropic individual was established. Her vision was improving to 6/6 (P) with a correction of-3.25 D Spherical and-1.0 D Cylinder at 180° in both eyes. Keratometry was within normal limits. Circumciliary congestion was present along with mild corneal edema [Figure 1]a, b and [Figure 2]a-d and shallow anterior chambers in both eyes [Figure 3]a and b. Gonioscopy showed closed angles in both eyes [Figure 4]a and b. There was 360° of iridocorneal apposition but no peripheral anterior synechiae on indentation. A raised intraocular pressure (IOP) of 28 and 32 mm of Hg in right and left eye respectively was noted. Anterior segment OCT was done and it corroborated the Gonioscopic findings showing 360° iridocorneal apposition with grossly reduced anterior segment parameters [Figure 5]a and b. The AS-OCT pictures confirmed shallow anterior chamber depth, narrow angles and forward movement of the lens iris diaphragm with increased convexity of the iris profile. The AS-OCT parameters seen at presentation are shown in [Table 1].
Table 1: AS-OCT parameters of the right and left eye at presentation

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Figure 1: (a) Slit lamp photo of right eye showing marked shallowing of the anterior chamber. (b) Slit lamp photo of left eye showing marked shallowing of the anterior chamber

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Figure 2: (a) and (c) Clinical photographs showing congestion in the right eye along with shallow anterior chamber, (b) and (d) Clinical photographs showing congestion in the left eye along with shallow anterior chamber

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Figure 3: (a) Slit lamp photograph showing the marked shallowing of the anterior chamber in right eye, (b) Slit lamp photograph showing the marked shallowing of the anterior chamber in left eye

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Figure 4: (a) Gonioscopy of right eye showing closed angles. There was 360° of iridocorneal apposition but no peripheral anterior synechia on indentation, (b) Gonioscopy of left eye showing closed angles. There was 360° of iridocorneal apposition but no peripheral anterior synechia on indentation

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Figure 5: (a) Anterior segment optical coherence tomography of right eye at presentation showing reduced anterior chamber depth, occludable angles with reduced anterior chamber parameters (angle opening distance, trabecular iris space area and scleral spur angle), (b) Anterior segment optical coherence tomography of left eye at presentation showing reduced anterior chamber depth, occludable angles with reduced anterior chamber parameters (angle opening distance, trabecular iris space area and scleral spur angle)

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TiAAC was diagnosed and she was started treatment with Dexamethasone eye drops 0.1% 6 times per day, Atropine 1% eye drops BD, Timolol Maleate eye drops (0.5% BD) and tablet Acetazolamide (250 mg) 1 tablet TDS. The following day her IOP had dropped to 14 mm of Hg in the right eye and 12 mm of Hg in the left eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed bilateral mild conjunctival congestion, clear corneas, mild anterior chamber reaction with occasional cells and Grade I flare and markedly shallow anterior chambers both centrally and peripherally. Both optic discs had a cup: disc ratio of 0.5 with healthy neuroretinal rims. Since the IOP had come down, only Timolol was continued along with dexamethasone and atropine eye-drops. Tablet acetazolamide was deliberately withheld.

By the 4 th day, her IOP was 12 mmHg in both eyes. There was no evidence of congestion and the anterior chambers of both eyes were deep and quiet. Gonioscopy showed 360° open angles with grade 4 (Shaffer's) in all quadrants of both eyes with no evidence of PAS. All topical medications were discontinued and the patient was reassured.

The AS-OCT done on this follow-up visit showed that all the anterior chamber angle parameters had increased [Figure 6]a and b and that the angles were wide open in both eyes [Table 2].
Table 2: AS-OCT parameters of the right and left eye post-treatment

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Figure 6: (a) Anterior segment optical coherence tomography of right eye showing improvement in the anterior chamber depth and anterior chamber parameters (angle opening distance, trabecular iris space area and scleral spur angle) post-treatment, (b) Anterior segment optical coherence tomography of left eye showing improvement in the anterior chamber depth and anterior chamber parameters (angle opening distance, trabecular iris space area and scleral spur angle) post-treatment

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Thus this case report shows very clearly with AS-OCT documentation the changes which occur in the anterior segment in a case of TiAAC.


  Discussion Top


Topiramate, a sulfamate-substituted monosaccharide, is used to treat epilepsy in children and adults. It was however originally used as an anticonvulsant. Psychiatrists have used topiramate to treat bipolar disorder, to augment psychotropics, or to counteract the weight gain associated with numerous antidepressants.

It is FDA approved for and most frequently prescribed for the prevention of migraine due to the effect it has on the blood vessels in the brain. [1] It is used as a preventative for atypical migraine sufferers. It widens the blood vessels in the brain which become restricted by increased serotonin levels.

Banta et al. first reported a case of uveal effusion and secondary angle-closure glaucoma associated with topiramate use in July 2001. [2] In September 2001, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals sent out a "Dear Healthcare Professional" letter, indicating 21 cases of acute angle-closure glaucoma had been reported to their safety division and physicians should be aware of this adverse drug reaction. The FDA released a case series with an overview of the package insert [3] and a case report from Rhee et al. described a 43-year-old patient with topiramate associated glaucoma that included high-frequency ultrasound evidence of ciliary process swelling and forward displacement of the lens iris diaphragm. [4] Since, then many case reports have appeared in the literature. [5],[6]

The largest series reported by Fraunfelder et al. in 2004 described the ocular side-effects of topiramate in 115 patients. [6] There were seven cases of permanent vision loss reported indicating that if unrecognized as a drug related event there was the potential for a serious adverse outcome. Other reported side-effects included retinal vascular occlusions, visual field defects, peri-orbital edema, scleritis, blepharospasm, oculogyric crisis, nystagmus and diplopia. In contrast to primary AAC, which is rare under 40 years of age, secondary AAC associated with topiramate has been reported in pediatric patients as well as adults, [7] with an age range from 3 years to 70 years and a mean of 34 years. The condition has predominantly been reported in females (80%).

The presentation of TiAAC is usually within the first 2 weeks (range 1-49 days) of commencing this drug for the 1 st time or within hours of doubling the dose, although there appears to be no relationship with the dose of topiramate taken. Absorption of topiramate is rapid, reaching peak plasma concentrations1-4 h following an oral dose. Typically the presenting symptoms include blurred vision, ocular pain, headache, nausea and vomiting. The clinical signs associated with this syndrome are shallowing of the anterior chamber, occluded angles, papillary changes, significantly elevated IOP, suprachoroidal effusion, ciliary body edema, forward displacement of the crystalline lens and acute myopia.

Acute myopia up to -9.0 diopters can occur in a matter of hours after starting topiramate, but might take weeks to fully resolve. There are several cases in the literature of topiramate-associated transient myopia without secondary angle closure. [8] Transient myopia is a well-known complication of other oral sulfa medications and their derivatives like acetazolamide. [9]

Myopia in TiAAC may be due to a disturbance of the osmotic state of the lens and concomitant alteration of the refractive index.

The first published TiAAC using AS-OCT for documentation was by van Issum et al. in 2011. [10] To the best of our knowledge, no Indian case report on TiAAC using AS-OCT has yet been published. Thus, this case report is unique and it suggests AS-OCT documentation of all cases of TiAAC for proper quantification and understanding of the disease process.

 
  References Top

1.
Silberstein SD, Lipton RB, Dodick DW, Freitag FG, Ramadan N, Mathew N, et al. Efficacy and safety of topiramate for the treatment of chronic migraine: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Headache 2007;47:170-80.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Banta JT, Hoffman K, Budenz DL, Ceballos E, Greenfield DS. Presumed topiramate-induced bilateral acute angle-closure glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol 2001;132:112-4.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Thambi L, Kapcala LP, Chambers W, Nourjah P, Beitz J, Chen M, et al. Topiramate-associated secondary angle-closure glaucoma: A case series. Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120:1108.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Rhee DJ, Goldberg MJ, Parrish RK. Bilateral angle-closure glaucoma and ciliary body swelling from topiramate. Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1721-3.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Chen TC, Chao CW, Sorkin JA. Topiramate induced myopic shift and angle closure glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol 2003;87:648-9.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Fraunfelder FW, Fraunfelder FT, Keates EU. Topiramate-associated acute, bilateral, secondary angle-closure glaucoma. Ophthalmology 2004;111:109-11.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Lin J, Fosnot J, Edmond J. Bilateral angle closure glaucoma in a child receiving oral topiramate. J AAPOS 2003;7:66-8.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Sen HA, O'Halloran HS, Lee WB. Case reports and small case series: Topiramate-induced acute myopia and retinal striae. Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:775-7.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Bovino JA, Marcus DF. The mechanism of transient myopia induced by sulfonamide therapy. Am J Ophthalmol 1982;94:99-102.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
van Issum C, Mavrakanas N, Schutz JS, Shaarawy T. Topiramate-induced acute bilateral angle closure and myopia: Pathophysiology and treatment controversies. Eur J Ophthalmol 2011;21:404-9.  Back to cited text no. 10
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5], [Figure 6]
 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1], [Table 2]


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