Retinal Vasculitis Associated with Ipilimumab

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To describe a case of retinal vasculitis associated with ipilimumab.

Methods

Case report.

Results

A 49-year-old Caucasian man presented with anterior uveitis of the left eye. He had a history of chronic myeloid leukemia undergoing ipilimumab therapy. He was treated with topical corticosteroids and achieved inactive inflammation. Ipilimumab was stopped by his oncologist since he manifested other immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Five months later, his visual acuity decreased in his left eye and optical coherence tomography demonstrated new cystoid macular edema. Fluorescein angiography revealed diffuse capillary leakage of the left eye. He received oral prednisone with improvement of both macular edema and vascular leakage, however, both remained persistent. He received an intravitreal injection of a 0.7 mg dexamethasone implant in the left eye with subsequent resolution of macular edema and vasculitis.

Conclusions

The occurrence of retinal vasculitis with ipilimumab expands the spectrum of ocular irAEs related to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Keywords:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitor
• immunotherapy
• ipilimumab
• uveitis
• vasculitis

Declaration of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest or financial disclosures. No funding or grants were received for this work.