Vitiligo following intravitreal ranibizumab: An association or an unrelated event?

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Case Report

Author Details : Ankur Yadav, Vishal Katiyar, Komal D. Singh, Vinita Singh

Volume : 2, Issue : 4, Year : 2016

Article Page : 166-168

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Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the most common cause for visual impairment in the elderly in western countries. Its incidence in India is expected to increase with the increase in the size of geriatric population.  Recently several anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs like pegaptanib sodium (Macugen), ranibizumab (Lucentis) and bevacizumab (Avastin) are available for use in the management of wet ARMD. Besides being too expensive, long term results of these drugs are not available as of now. A 65 yrs old patient diagnosed with wet ARMD was given intra-vitreal Ranibizumab. He developed vitiligo involving both hands post injection. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case Ranibizumab- induced vitiligo. It not only draws attention to the fact that VEGF receptors have an important role in pathogenesis of vitiligo but also to the commonly ignored area of systemic side-effects of intra-vitreal anti-VEGF therapy.

Keywords: Anti-VEGF therapy, Vitiligo, Ranibizumab.
Key Message: This study highlights the fact that intra-vitreal anti-VEGF therapy has many yet unreported systemic side-effects which need to be explored. It also underlines the role of VEGF receptors in pathogenesis of vitiligo

 

How to cite : Yadav A, Katiyar V, Singh K D, Singh V, Vitiligo following intravitreal ranibizumab: An association or an unrelated event?. IP Indian J Clin Exp Dermatol 2016;2(4):166-168

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