TARANTULA HAIR ASSOCIATED PANUVEITIS TREATED WITH SUSTAINED-RELEASE INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To report a case of tarantula hair-induced panuveitis treated with sustained-release intravitreal dexamethasone implant and followed by sequential spectral domain optical coherence tomography imaging.

METHODS:

Findings on clinical examination, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, corneal in vivo confocal microscopy, color fundus photos, fluorescein angiography, and retinal spectral domain optical coherence tomography are presented. Sequential optical coherence tomography images demonstrated the course of the chorioretinal lesions before and after sustained-release intravitreal dexamethasone implant.

RESULTS:

A 19-year-old female presented with localized temporal episcleritis and scleritis that incompletely resolved despite multiple courses of topical and oral corticosteroids. She subsequently developed focal vitritis and chorioretinitis, and was found to have tarantula hair-induced panuveitis. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography and in vivo confocal microscopy confirmed the presence of tarantula hairs embedded in the anterior corneal stroma. There was only transient improvement with posterior sub-Tenon's Kenalog injection. After treatment with sustained-release intravitreal dexamethasone implant, her symptoms improved and the chorioretinal lesions became inactive. Sequential spectral domain optical coherence tomography images revealed hyperreflective inner retina lesions that progressed to involve the outer retina, and then flattened to near resolution after therapy.

CONCLUSION:

This is the first case showing positive clinical outcomes supported by sequential retinal spectral domain optical coherence tomography using a sustained-release intravitreal dexamethasone implant to treat ophthalmia nodosa-induced by tarantula hairs.

• Authors: Melina I Morkin, Lana M Rifkin, Sabin Dang, Caroline R Baumal
• Journal: Retinal cases & brief reports (Retin Cases Brief Rep) 2017 Fall Vol. 11 Issue 4 Pg. 298-301 ISSN: 1937-1578 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27472515 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Delayed-Action Preparations
• Drug Implants
• Dexamethasone

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage)
• Delayed-Action Preparations (therapeutic use)
• Dexamethasone (administration & dosage)
• Drug Implants
• Female
• Hair
• Humans
• Panuveitis (drug therapy, ethnology)
• Spiders
• Young Adult