Long-term retinal toxicity of intravitreal commercially available preserved triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog) in rabbit eyes.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

PURPOSE: To investigate whether intravitreal Kenalog (IVTK; Bristol Meyers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) produces histologic or electroretinographic changes in the rabbit retina up to 3 months after injection. METHODS: Ten Dutch-belted rabbits were injected with 4 mg/0.1 mL Kenalog in one eye and 0.1 mL physiologic salt solution (PSS) in the fellow eye. Simultaneous bilateral dark-adapted electroretinography was performed 2 weeks and 12 weeks after injection in 10 and 6 rabbits, respectively. Saturated a-wave amplitude, maximal scotopic b-wave amplitude, and individual a-wave and b-wave amplitudes of IVTK-injected and control eyes were compared at 2 and 12 weeks after injection. Light microscopy was performed on both eyes of three animals 3 months after injection. Immunohistochemistry was performed with antibodies recognizing vimentin and human alveolar macrophage (HAM)-56, markers of glial cells and macrophages, respectively. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the saturated a-wave or maximal scotopic b-wave amplitudes between the PSS-injected eyes and the IVTK-injected eyes at 2 weeks (P = 0.95 and P = 0.56, respectively) and 12 weeks (P = 0.82 and P = 0.17) after injection. Light microscopy and immunohistochemistry disclosed only rare macrophages in the vitreous of IVTK-injected eyes. Retinal layers, retinal pigment epithelium, and choriocapillaris in treatment and control eyes were unremarkable. CONCLUSIONS: No demonstrable electroretinographic or histologic changes occurred to suggest immediate or delayed widespread retinal toxicity of IVTK.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Albini, TA; Abd-El-Barr, MM; Carvounis, PE; Iyer, MN; Lakhanpal, RR; Pennesi, ME; Chevez-Barrios, P; Wu, SM; Holz, ER

Published Date

  • January 1, 2007

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 48 / 1

Start / End Page

  • 390 - 395

PubMed ID

  • 17197559

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0146-0404

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1167/iovs.06-0145

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States