Atypical reginal vasculitis associated with ticlopidine hydrochloridine use

PURPOSE: To describe two cases of retinal vasculitis shortly after the init iation of ticlopidine hydrochloride (Ticlid, Roche, Kingsland St, NJ) thera py. METHODS: Case reports of two patients, The first patient was a 43-year-old white woman complaining of spots, floaters, and flashes of lights in both e yes 3 weeks after the initiation of treatment with ticlopidine hydrochlorid e. The second patient was a 72-year-old woman complaining of decreased visu al acuity in the left eye for 2 weeks ,4 weeks after initiating oral admini stration of ticlopidine hydrochloride. RESULTS: Both patients had resolution of the vasculitis after the discontin uation of ticlopidine therapy. CONCLUSION: The temporal relation and the resolution of symptoms after disc ontinuation of ticlopidine hydrochloride:suggest:that the vasculitis was re lated to the ticlopidine:hydrochloride administration. Knowledge of this po tential complication of ticlopidine hydrochloride is important for the earl y diagnosis of this possible druginduced side effect and the cessation of t iclopidine hydrochloride. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights rese rved.