Diffuse ocular and orbital inflammation after zoledronate infusion—case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Bisphosphonates have become a commonly used class of medications to treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Zoledronate (zoledronic acid) can be dosed annually via intravenous infusion, making it an appealing option for patients and physicians. We report the case of a 68-year-old woman who developed severe, unilateral, ocular inflammation, including corneal endotheliitis, anterior uveitis with hyphema, scleritis, and orbital inflammation beginning 12 hours after receiving her first zoledronate infusion. Symptoms escalated but ultimately resolved with topical steroids and high-dose systemic corticosteroids. To our knowledge, this is the first report of unilateral diffuse inflammation of the eye and orbit, including corneal inflammation developing within 12 hours of a first zoledronate infusion.