Scleral buckling or PPV can treat rhegmatogenous RD in BD

Scleral buckling or pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) can be used to treat rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) associated with Behçet's disease (BD), according to researchers in the Department of Ophthalmology, Zagazig University, Egypt.

The researchers retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients at their institution who had undergone surgical intervention for rhegmatogenous RD associated with BD between June 2007 and June 2012. They reported their results in BMC Ophthalmology.

The study included 7 eyes of 7 patients. Five eyes were treated with scleral buckling (4 segmental buckle and 1 encircling buckle); 2 eyes were treated with PPV. One eye initially treated by scleral buckling showed recurrence of RD and was subsequently treated with PPV. All 7 retinas were successfully reattached at the end of a follow-up period of 22.0 (± 6.7) months.

"Rhegmatogenous RD is a rare posterior segment complication of BD but it should be kept in mind, especially if the patient presented with marked diminution of vision on top of the chronic course of the disease, and careful examination should be considered especially in cases with media opacity," the researchers wrote. "Segmental scleral buckle or PPV are effective and safe in management of this complication in BD patients with no unusual complications."

The researchers added that 3 of the patients had a history of receiving an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide to treat attacks of panuveitis or resistant cystoid macular oedema, and in all cases their RD occurred within 8 weeks of the injection. This led them to speculate that intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide may be a precipitating factor for the development of rhegmatogenous RD, and they urged close observation of such patients after injection.

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