May 2005
Volume 46, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2005
Choroidal Neovascularization During Tamoxifen Treatment
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • R. Hera
    Ophthal, Ctr Hosp Univ, Grenoble, France
  • B. Gonzalvez
    Ophthal, Ctr Hosp Univ, Grenoble, France
  • M. Tonini
    Ophthal, Ctr Hosp Univ, Grenoble, France
  • M. Mouillon
    Ophthal, Ctr Hosp Univ, Grenoble, France
  • J.P. Romanet
    Ophthal, Ctr Hosp Univ, Grenoble, France
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  R. Hera, None; B. Gonzalvez, None; M. Tonini, None; M. Mouillon, None; J.P. Romanet, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  None.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2005, Vol.46, 238. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      R. Hera, B. Gonzalvez, M. Tonini, M. Mouillon, J.P. Romanet; Choroidal Neovascularization During Tamoxifen Treatment . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2005;46(13):238.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose:Ocular side effects have already been described in tamoxifen therapy. We report for the first time two cases of patients who developped during tamoxifen treatment choroidal neovascularization associated with inner retinal crystalline deposition or diffuse intraepithelial infiltration. Methods:Patient 1: 72 year old woman receiving tamoxifen as an adjuvant postoperative treatment for breast cancer, reports during the treatment a visual acuity loss in right eye. Fluorescein and ICG angiographic examination showed peripapillar neovascularization associated with macular oedema ,retinal crystalline deposition and diffuse intrepithelial infiltration. Direct photocoagulation was performed . Angiographic findings of neovascularization disappeared without visual acuity improvement because of persistent macular oedema. Few months later the tamoxifen treatment was stopped. Patient 2: 48 year old woman receiving tamoxifen for 2 years additionally to sugery for a breast cancer, report during the treatment a visual loss in right eye. Fluorescein and ICG angiographic examination showed subfoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with diffuse intrepithelial infiltration. Photodynamic therapy was performed. Tamoxifen treatment was stopped. Results: For both patients stopping tamoxifen allowed visual acuity improvement , macular oedema and crystalline deposition decrease. Conclusions: One question can be raised at view of those case reports : Is the choroidal neovascularization an adverse effect of tamoxifen therapy, or is this an independent degenerative pathology? Dramatic improvement of clinical and fundus examination findings occurring only after stopping tamoxifen, supports this idea. As previously shown, oestrogen may function as an inhibitor of the level of VEGF mRNA so we can speculate that antioestrogen may induce neovascularization.

Keywords: choroid: neovascularization • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications • drug toxicity/drug effects 
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