Risk of Retinal Vein Occlusions in Patients Treated with Rofecoxib (Vioxx)

Vol. 219, No. 4, 2005

Free Abstract Article (Fulltext) Article (PDF 204 KB)

Original Paper

Risk of Retinal Vein Occlusions in Patients Treated with Rofecoxib (Vioxx)
Carsten H. Meyer, Jörg C. Schmidt, Eduardo B. Rodrigues, Stefan Mennel

Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2005;219:243-247 (DOI: 10.1159/000085735)

Key Words

Retinal vein occlusion
Rofecoxib
Vioxx
Cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitor

Abstract

Aims: To present patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) after application of rofecoxib (Vioxx), a cyclo-oxygenase (COX) 2 inhibitor. Methods: Three patients with sudden decrease in their vision were referred for evaluation and possible treatment. Results: A 72-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis was treated with rofecoxib. When the dosage was doubled to 50 mg daily, she noticed a sudden painless decrease of vision in her right eye. Her visual acuity (VA) was 20/400 OD and 20/20 OS. Biomicroscopy OD demonstrated a CRVO with tortuous retinal veins and numerous flecked hemorrhages in the midperiphery. A 68-year-old female with severe osteoporosis developed a BRVO with flame-shaped hemorrhages in the superior hemisphere OS 1 day after taking rofecoxib (25 mg) daily. A 47-year-old American male took Vioxx for 1 week to relieve hip pain and noticed temporarily decreased vision OD. A month later, he resumed taking Vioxx and noticed a progressive decline in his VA with persistent cloudiness. Ophthalmic examination revealed a CRVO in his right eye. Conclusion: Although COX-2 inhibitors are safe in the majority of patients, under certain conditions they may induce prothrombotic effects. Few patients with predisposed thrombosis may be at risk for cardiovascular and ocular thrombotic events.

Author Contacts

Carsten H. Meyer, MD
Department of Ophthalmology
Philipps University Marburg, Robert-Koch-Strasse 4
DE-35037 Marburg (Germany)
Tel. +49 6421 2862616, Fax +49 6421 2865678, E-Mail meyer_eye@yahoo.com

Article Information

Received: February 13, 2004
Accepted after revision: September 21, 2004
Published online: July 09, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 22

Medline Abstract (ID 16088245)

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