Definition
The term "retinitis" is used to indicate any type of inflammation that affects the retina, regardless of the cause that generated it.
However, we can distinguish two main forms of retinitis: infective retinitis and retinitis pigmentosa.
Causes
Infectious retinitis is caused - as can be deduced from the name itself - by infections, which can be of bacterial, viral or fungal type.
Retinitis pigmentosa, on the other hand, is an inherited-degenerative form at the base of which there appear to be malformations at the level of the photoreceptors or of the retina itself.
Symptoms
The typical symptoms of bacterial retinitis consist of reduced vision and the formation of microabscesses. In the most serious cases, the retina can also be destroyed and replaced with scar tissue which, in turn, can favor the detachment of the retina itself.
In viral retinitis, on the other hand, we see the formation of white retinal foci surrounded by hemorrhages that impair vision. Furthermore, ocular pain, photophobia and hyperemia may occur.
The symptoms of fungal retinitis include: whitish and crystalline nebulous retinal lesions, or yellowish infiltrates and haemorrhages (depending on the fungus that caused the infection), eye pain and severe vision impairment, up to blindness.
Patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, on the other hand, experience a loss of peripheral visual field ("tunnel" vision) and have difficulty adapting to the dark. In most cases, retinitis pigmentosa leads to blindness.
Information on Retinitis - Drugs for Retinitis Treatment is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Retinitis - Retinitis Medication.
drugs
The pharmacological treatment of retinitis depends on the underlying cause of the inflammation.
In the case of bacterial retinitis, the infection can be triggered by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or by Treponema pallidum . Therefore, antibiotic therapy will be aimed at eradicating these microorganisms.
Viral retinitis is caused by cytomegalovirus-borne infections belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Therefore, the pharmacological treatment of this form of retinitis involves the use of antiviral drugs.
It should also be remembered that this type of retinal inflammation is very common in immunocompromised patients, such as, for example, those suffering from AIDS.
Fungal retinitis, on the other hand, is mostly caused by Candida albicans or Aspergillus infections. In these cases, therefore, it is necessary to intervene with the administration of antifungal drugs. Furthermore, to eliminate the infection completely, vitrectomy can also be used.
Finally, for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa, unfortunately, at the moment there are no drugs available to treat it. However, it appears that daily administration of vitamin A palmitate may slow its progression and delay the onset of blindness.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are used when retinitis is caused by bacterial infections. The main causes of these infections are Mycobacterium tubercolosis and Treponema pallidum (the same microorganisms responsible for tuberculosis and syphilis, respectively).
Among the various active ingredients that can be used, we recall:
- Rifampicin (Rifadin ®): rifampicin is an antibiotic belonging to the class of rifamycins and used against mycobacterial infections, such as Mycobacterium tubercolosis .
It is a drug available for both oral and parenteral administration. When administered orally, the dose of rifampicin usually used ranges from 600 mg to 1, 200 mg a day, to be taken in divided doses. The exact amount of medicine to be taken will be established by the doctor for each patient.
- Doxycycline (Bassado ®, Miraclin ®): doxycycline is an antibiotic belonging to the class of tetracycline that can be used to fight infections caused by Treponema pallidum . The dose of doxycycline usually used is 100-200 mg per day, to be taken orally. However, it will be the doctor who will determine for each patient how much drug to take and for how long.
Antivirals
Antiviral drugs are used for the treatment of retinitis caused by viruses, particularly cytomegaloviruses.
Among the different drugs that can be used, we remember:
- Ganciclovir (Citovirax ®): ganciclovir is an antiviral with a chemical structure similar to that of desoxyguanosine and acts by interfering with viral DNA replication. It is a drug available for intravenous administration. The dose of ganciclovir to be administered must be established by the doctor depending on the body weight and the health condition of each patient.
- Foscarnet (Foscavir ®): foscarnet is an antiviral with specific therapeutic indications for the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients. The dose of drug usually used is 20 mg / kg of body weight, to be administered by an intravenous infusion lasting 30-60 minutes. If necessary, the doctor may decide to increase the aforementioned dose of foscarnet administered.
Antifungals
When retinitis is caused by fungal infections (caused by Candida albicans or Aspergillus ), the doctor can intervene by prescribing antifungal drugs.
Among the different types of antifungals that can be used to counteract these fungi, we recall:
- Amphotericin B (Abelcet ®): amphotericin B is an antifungal of natural origin, isolated for the first time from cultures of Streptomyces nodosus . It is indicated both for the treatment of Candida- supported infections and for the treatment of Aspergillus- supported infections. Amphotericin B is available for parenteral administration. The dosage of drug usually used is 5 mg / kg of body weight, to be administered through a single intravenous infusion.
