Intravitreal Fluconazole Injection for Fungal Endophthalmitis as Treatment Option in a Patient With End-Stage Liver and Kidney Diseases

Abstract

Endogenous endophthalmitis is an infectious disease of the intraocular tissue that is a consequence of bloodstream infection. The efficacy of intravitreal fluconazole injection to assist low-dose oral fluconazole in fungal endophthalmitis remains unknown in older adults with advanced liver and renal disease. In this case report, a 78-year-old man with hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma who also had end-stage renal disease with temporary nephrostomy noticed blurred vision and showed a large retinal infiltrate with vitreous opacity in the right eye. In the clinical diagnosis of endogenous fungal endophthalmitis, he had an intravitreal injection of 0.1% fluconazole in 0.2 - 0.3 mL every 2 weeks four times in total, in addition to a minimum dose of oral fluconazole. One month before the ophthalmic presentation, he developed a fever and computed tomography scan showed ureterolithiasis with hydronephrosis on the right side, indicating that the renal pelvic stone fell into the ureter. He underwent nephrostomy tube insertion on the right side in the diagnosis of obstructive urinary tract infection. In the course, a potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation of the urine sediments which were obtained from the nephrostomy tube showed yeast-like fungi, suggestive of Candida, 1 week before the development of eye symptoms. One week after the ophthalmic presentation, the nephrostomy tube at 14 Fr (French gauge) which had been inserted 1 month previously was replaced with a new tube with a larger size at 16 Fr because urine excretion from the tube was reduced. Immediately after the exchange of the nephrostomy tube, a large volume of urine was excreted from the tube. In a week, he had no systemic symptoms and serum C-reactive protein became low. In the meantime, the retinal infiltrate became inactive and vitreous opacity resolved. Intravitreal fluconazole injection is a treatment option for fungal endophthalmitis in the case that a patient cannot undergo vitrectomy and cannot take a maximum dose of fluconazole because of poor renal function.

J Med Cases. 2024;15(11):359-366
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc4302