Bisphosphonate-associated orbital inflammatory disease and uveitis anterior--a case report and review.

BACKGROUND: Drug-induced cases of orbital inflammation and uveitis are rare.We present a bisphosphonate-induced case of unilateral orbital inflammation and bilateral anterior uveitis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 75-year-old female presents because of pain and swelling around her left eye with an onset 2 days after an intravenous zoledronic acid therapy for osteoporosis. Examination reveals reduced visual acuity of 0.2, proptosis of 4 mm, marked conjunctival chemosis and hyperemia, ophthalmoplegia and choroidal folds in the left eye and a bilateral anterior uveitis. CT and MRI scans show signs of diffuse pre- and postseptal inflammation in the left orbit.

RESULTS: Initiation of intravenous methylprednisolon leads to a complete regression of the inflammatory process within days. This causality between the therapy with bisphosphonates and an orbital inflammation as well as an anterior uveitis corresponds to the literature. Drug-induced cases of orbital inflammation and uveitis have also been reported following use of antiinfectious drugs, biologica and vaccines.

CONCLUSIONS: Iatrogenic causes should be considered in the differential diagnosis of orbital inflammations, scleritis and uveitis. Findings are mostly reversible after discontinuation of the drug and therapy of inflammation.