Marked Choroidal Thinning Observed after Intravitreal Brolucizumab Injection

Abstract

Introduction: Here, we report a case of severe intraocular inflammation (IOI) and prominent choroidal thinning following the initial intravitreal brolucizumab injection (IVBr).

Case presentation: The patient was a 75-year-old Japanese man with type 2 age-related macular degeneration of both eyes. Until 2015, he had undergone two intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections and two photodynamic therapies in his right eye. His decimal best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.1 in the right eye and 0.1 in the left eye. Central choroidal thickness (CCT) measured 240 μm in his right eye. IVBr was administered to the right eye. The patient reported pain in the right eye 23 days after the injection. On day 26, panuveitis and retinal vasculitis were observed in the right eye. CCT measured 436 μm. On the same day, a sub-tenon triamcinolone injection was administered. On day 42, retinal inflammation remained at a similar level. The CCT decreased to 164 μm. On day 68, the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the right eye increased to 39 mm Hg, and IOI persisted. On day 89, the patient's eye pain disappeared, and the IOP decreased to 13 mm Hg. On day 225, the IOI and symptoms were completely resolved. The decimal BCVA was 0.04 in the right eye, and CCT measured 84 μm.

Conclusion: Brolucizumab is a highly effective anti-VEGF drug; however, it has the potential to induce inflammation in tissues adjacent to the retina and may occasionally cause irreversible sequelae.

Keywords: Brolucizumab; Case report; Choroidal thinning; Intraocular inflammation; Intravitreal injection.