Abstract
Purpose::
To evaluate the safety of intravitreal Macugen injections amongst patients on warfarin anticoagulation.
Methods::
A search was conducted for all patients treated with intravitreal Macugen injections for choroidal neovascularization. Inclusion criteria included patients on warfarin anticoagulation, in whom therapy was continued throughout the treatment period.
Results::
Our review identified 31 patients (32 eyes) who underwent a total of 102 intravitreal Macugen injections while maintained on warfarin anticoagulation. The mean and median number of Macugen injections per patient was 3. No intraoperative or immediate postoperative hemorrhagic complications were noted. One patient experienced an acute submacular hemorrhage 35 days after the third Macugen injection. There were no other hemorrhagic events amongst the remaining patients.
Conclusions::
This retrospective chart review found that approximately 10% of patients with exudative AMD will have concomitant medical conditions requiring the use of warfarin anticoagulation. Our data suggests that patients treated with intravitreal Macugen for choroidal neovascularization due to AMD while maintained on warfarin therapy may safely undergo intravitreal injections without cessation of anticoagulation.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • injection • vitreoretinal surgery