Purpose: To report the effect of antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy for choroidal neovascularisation associated with deferoxamine toxicity.
Method: In an interventional case report, intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy was used for the treatment of a choroidal neovascularization in a patient with deferoxamine retinopathy.
Results: A 54-year-old woman with beta-thalassemia intermedia and known deferoxamine toxicity presented with recent vision loss to the left eye secondary to a choroidal neovascular membrane. Visual acuity had decreased from 20/30 to 20/80 in the left eye. Funduscopic examination and fluorescein angiography revealed diffuse retinal pigment epithelial mottling and a choroidal neovascular membrane. Treatment with three doses of intravitreal bevacizumab led to a good structural outcome and improvement of the visual acuity. The patient later developed a choroidal neovascular membrane in the right eye. Similar treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab also led to a rapid structural resolution of the lesion, albeit with a more modest improvement in the visual acuity.
Conclusion: Therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab might be an option for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization in the context of deferoxamine toxicity.