Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in a Patient Taking Tocilizumab: A Case Report
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of vitreoretinal diseases
Abstract
Purpose: This report discusses a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in a patient taking tocilizumab for maintenance and remission of giant cell arteritis (GCA).
Methods: A case report is presented.
Results: A 78-year-old African American woman with no significant past medical history and an ocular history of primary open-angle glaucoma presented to the retina clinic with vitritis in the right eye. Four months earlier, she had been diagnosed with biopsy-proven GCA and prescribed 30 mg of prednisone daily and 162 mg tocilizumab subcutaneously weekly. Diagnostic vitrectomy with polymerase chain reaction of the vitreous was positive for CMV. Her retinitis gradually resolved after 3 months of treatment with valganciclovir, with no recurrence 4 months after discontinuing the valganciclovir.
Conclusions: Physicians should be aware of the potential to develop CMV retinitis in the setting of tocilizumab use for GCA treatment.
First Page
233
Last Page
235
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/2474126420910587
Publication Date
6-2020
Recommended Citation
Ong, Erin S. and Thompson, John T., "Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in a Patient Taking Tocilizumab: A Case Report" (2020). Ophthalmology. 41.
https://scholarlycommons.gbmc.org/ophth/41