December 2010, Issue 48

Bullous Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachment:
Two Different Stories

Andres Emanuelli, MD
Vitreoretinal Fellow
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Harry W. Flynn, Jr. MD
Professor of Ophthalmology
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) rips can occur as part of the natural course or after treatment of pigment epithelial detachment (PED) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). An incidence of 10% has been reported as part of the natural history of this condition.¹ With the increasing popularity of anti-VEGF therapy for the treatment of wet AMD, the incidence of RPE rip has been reported as high as 17%.² In PEDs progressing to rip, there is generally a poor visual prognosis. A minority of eyes maintain good visual acuity despite RPE tears.³

We describe two patients with this complication and report a variable visual outcome when associated with subretinal hemorrhage.

Patient #1

A 63 year-old woman with a past medical history of dry AMD presented with a PED and subretinal fluid in her left eye (Figure 1A). Her best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/100. She was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab 1.25mg on the initial visit. At one month follow-up, BCVA improved to 20/40 (Figure 1B). The patient received a total of eight intravitreal injections of bevacizumab 1.25 mg over a period of 12 months and, throughout this time, maintained a BCVA of 20/40. At the 14 month follow-up from baseline, examination demonstrated a hemorrhagic RPE rip involving the fovea (Figure 1C). Her visual acuity decreased to 20/400. She was re-injected with intravitreal bevacizumab 1.25 mg and, 3 months later, her BCVA had improved to 20/50 (Figure 1D). She returned to her baseline visual acuity of 20/40 after additional intravitreal bevacizumab injections (4 months after the RPE rip) (Figure 1E). She received a total of 14 intravitreal bevacizumab injections. BCVA was 20/40 at last follow-up (28 months from baseline, and 1 month after the last injection).

Figure 1A: Pretreatment

Figure 1B: One month post-treatment Figure 1C: 14 month follow-up visit, hemorrhagic RPE rip Figure 1D: Three months after additional treatment Figure 1E: Four months after RPE rip

Patient #2

An 85 year-old woman with a past medical history of wet AMD (shallow PED) presented with a submacular hemorrhage and RPE rip in her left eye. Her BCVA was 3/200. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrated a RPE rip (Figure 2A). She was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab 1.25mg on the initial visit. At one month follow-up, her BCVA was 20/400 (Figure 2B). The patient received a total of seven intravitreal injections, alternating every two months between bevacizumab 1.25 mg and ranibizumab 0.5mg , over a period of 14 months. BCVA improved to 20/200, and trace intraretinal fluid was observed on OCT. At the most recent follow-up (16 months from baseline and two months after the last injection), BCVA was 3/200 and examination demonstrated significant cystoid macular edema associated with a recurrent PED (Figure 2C). She was reinjected with intravitreal ranibizumab 0.5 mg.

Figure 2A: RPE rip, pretreatment	Figure 2B: One month post-treatment	Figure 2C: 16 month follow-up visit

Discussion

Several potential mechanisms have been proposed regarding RPE rips. Fibrovascular contraction of choroidal neovascular membranes, mechanical forces from vitreomacular traction, or interruption of tight junctions due to anti-VEGF therapy are the most likely causes.⁴

A strong association between the height of the PED on OCT and the risk of RPE rip has been reported.⁵ Both patients reported in the current series had a bullous PED. The potential benefits of anti-VEGF treatment must be balanced with the risk of RPE rip in such patients.

The definitive management of bullous PED and subretinal hemorrhage remains controversial. Options include observation, anti-VEGF therapy, photodynamic therapy or submacular surgery. Submacular surgery as performed in the SST group B trial did not increase the chance of stable or improved visual acuity and was associated with a high risk of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, but did reduce the risk of severe VA loss in comparison with observation.⁶ The SST was performed before the use of OCT, and PEDs with or without RPE rips were not clearly identified. Both patients in the current report demonstrated anatomical improvement with continued intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment. Only patient #1 experienced a significant visual acuity improvement when treated with continued anti-VEGF therapy but has a persistent shallow residual PED.

REFERENCES

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