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Multimodal Imaging of Retinal Changes in a Patient Taking Axitinib
Sebile Comcalı1, Cigdem Coskun1, Cemal Çavdarlı1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Current Medical Imaging
|March 4, 2025
Summary
Axitinib, a cancer drug, can cause rare but serious retinal toxicity, including hemorrhages and macular edema. Prompt discontinuation of axitinib can lead to vision improvement and prevent permanent visual loss.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Axitinib is a targeted therapy inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, utilized in treating various cancers.
- Ocular toxicity is a potential, though uncommon, side effect associated with axitinib treatment.
Observation:
- A 45-year-old female patient on axitinib developed blurred vision, intraretinal hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, and macular edema.
- Optical coherence tomography confirmed macular edema and subretinal fluid, while fluorescein angiography showed ischemic changes and perivascular leakage.
Findings:
- Discontinuation of axitinib led to significant improvement in macular edema and funduscopic findings.
- The patient's visual acuity improved from counting fingers to 20/32 in the affected eye after treatment cessation.
Implications:
- Ophthalmologists must be vigilant for ocular side effects in patients undergoing axitinib therapy.
- Early detection and management of axitinib-induced retinal toxicity are crucial for preserving visual function and preventing irreversible vision loss.
