Clinical outcome of chronic immunosuppression in patients with non-infectious uveitis

AIM: To determine the visual outcome and corticosteroid dose requirement in patients with non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment treated with corticosteroids and additional second-line immunosuppression. METHOD: A retrospective, non-comparative case series was carried out. Seventy-two patients (141 eyes) with uncontrolled non-infectious uveitis on systemic prednisolone were treated with at least one second-line immunosuppressive agent in addition to systemic prednisolone and followed for at least 3 months.Visual acuity (VA), clinical disease activity, corticosteroid-sparing effect, disease relapses requiring corticosteroid dose increase,and side-effects from second-line agents were evaluated. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up period (mean: 55.5 months),70 eyes (49.6%) had VA of 6/9 or better. There was a reduction in the mean maintenance dose of prednisolone required before the introduction of the second-line agent (19 mg/day +/- 2 SE)when compared to the mean maintenance dose of prednisolone at the end of the data collection (9 mg/day +/- 1 SE; P <0.001).There was also a significant reduction in the number of disease relapses requiring an increase in prednisolone dose after starting the second-line agents as compared to the year before (P <0.02). CONCLUSION: In patients with uveitis affecting the posterior segment, the addition of all second-line immunosuppressive therapy was effective in allowing reduction of the dose of systemic prednisolone to 10 mg/day or less, in controlling intraocular inflammation, reducing the number of relapses and in maintaining vision. Because of their side-effects, immunosuppressive treatment should be individualized and monitored closely but its addition is beneficial in the short and longer term.     

Adalimumab successful in sarcoidosis patients with refractory chronic non-infectious uveitis

Introduction  

Adalimumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted against TNF-α, has proved to be successful in the treatment of uveitis. Another anti-TNF-α agent, i.e., infliximab, has been reported of benefit in the treatment of refractory sarcoidosis. The aim of this prospective case series was to evaluate the effect of adalimumab on intraocular inflammatory signs and other relevant clinical manifestations (lung function, serological inflammatory parameters, and fatigue) of sarcoidosis.     

Preoperative hyphema and raised intraocular pressure after peribulbar anesthesia in Fuchs’ heterochromic uveitis

We report a painless and progressive Fuchs’ heterochromic uveitis presenting with visual dimness. Examination revealed stellate keratic precipitates, light-colored iris, posterior subcapsular cataract, and normal intraocular pressure (IOP). Phacoemulsification was planned. After peribulbar anesthesia and digital massage, there was significant hyphema and increased IOP. Surgery was postponed until hyphema cleared and normal IOP occurred. Patient eventually gained visual acuity 6/6. The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or other relationship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article. The authors also do not discuss the use of off-label products, which includes unlabeled, unapproved, or investigative products or devices.     

Prevalence of parvovirus B19-specific antibodies and of viral DNA in patients with endogenous uveitis

Background Parvovirus B19 causes erythema infectiosum (fifth disease) in children. The virus has been associated with several autoimmune diseases and has been found in synovium or serum from patients with long-standing arthritis or other rheumatic diseases. We investigated serum and aqueous fluid samples of patients with endogenous uveitis. Methods Sera of 70 consecutive uveitis patients were investigated for IgG against structural proteins VP1 and VP2 and non-structural protein NS1 by western blot technique. Viral DNA in serum was assessed by quantitative PCR. Simultaneous DNA analysis was also performed on aqueous fluid samples from 11 uveitis patients and 10 patients without uveitis during routine cataract extraction. Results In 15 (21.4%; healthy population: 16 of 10,000) of the 70 serum samples (mean age 42.69 years, range 9–82 years; 48 women, 22 men), viral DNA was detected. IgG directed against structural protein VP1 or VP2 was found in 60 patients (85.7%; healthy population: 80%) and IgG against non-structural protein NS1 in 33 patients (47.1%; healthy population: 22%). In none of the patients was IgM antibody as a serological marker for acute parvovirus infection found. Patients with posterior uveitis (n=11) had detectable serum DNA in 54.5% (p=0.021). This group displayed the highest rate of deterioration of visual acuity (>2 Snellen lines), at 72.7% (all patients: 58.6%; p=0.219). In 2 of the 11 aqueous fluid samples, viral DNA was detected. Antibodies against parvovirus B19 were found in both samples, whereas viral DNA was absent in the serum. In the control group of 10 healthy cataract patients, 3 had detectable DNA in the aqueous humor; 1 of these 3 also had detectable levels of viral DNA in serum. Conclusions Prevalence of IgG antibodies against NS1 protein in serum samples and DNA in serum is increased in uveitis patients compared with the normal population, suggesting a persistent infection. The presence of DNA in aqueous humor samples shows, for the first time, persistence of parvovirus B19 in the eye in uveitis and also in healthy patients. The role of parvovirus DNA in the aqueous fluid and of IgG antibodies against NS1 in the pathogenesis of uveitis cannot be defined at present. None of the authors has a financial interest in any of the products used or a financial relationship with the supporting organization.     

Phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in patients with uveitis

BACKGROUND: Cataract remains a challenge for ophthalmologists in uveitic eyes. The aim of this study is to report the clinical course of phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in eyes suffering from uveitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients presenting a uveitis were prospectively followed from June 2001 to June 2003. Ocular surgery was performed according to a standard protocol, autoimmune follow-up visits were focused on the early detection of complications of uveitis: increased ocular inflammation, synechiae, retraction of the rhexis, opacification of the posterior capsule or onset of cystoid macular edema. RESULTS: Thirty-two eyes of 24 patients suffering from uveitis were operated with cataract surgery between June 2001 and June 2003. The mean age at surgery was 56 years (range 24 - 86 years). Mean preoperative visual acuity in uveitis patients presenting cataract was 0.3 +/- 0.3, and final visual acuity was 0.8 +/- 0.3. Three patients presented minor postoperative complications. One patient had a cystoid macular edema that appeared 5 months after surgery and one patient had a relapse of herpetic dendritic keratopathy despite topical antiviral therapy combined with steroid drops. The latter presented a slight increase of intraocular pressure (24 mm Hg). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with uveitis requiring cataract surgery, intraocular lens implantation is safe. Visual prognosis is better when pre- and postoperative inflammation is minimized. Macular scars or other retinal lesions are poor prognostic indicators.     

阿达木单抗治疗非感染性葡萄膜炎

非感染性葡萄膜炎(non-infectious uveitis,NIU)是一组免疫介导的疾病,其病因复杂,治疗棘手。肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)是NIU中的主要促炎因子,阿达木单抗是一种完全的人源性TNF-α单克隆抗体,特异性与TNF-α结合阻断其诱导的下游过程。阿达木单抗治疗NIU包括Behcet病所致葡萄膜炎、Vogt-小柳-原田综合征、强直性脊柱炎相关葡萄膜炎、儿童葡萄膜炎等,可有效减轻炎症,减少糖皮质激素的用量,降低复发率,其安全性也已得到初步证实。阿达木单抗是NIU二线治疗适合的选择,在治疗NIU中显示出巨大的潜力。(国际眼科纵览,2022,46:336-340)     

Fuchs heterochromic cyclitis: rubella virus antibodies and genome in aqueous humor

PURPOSE: To characterize the polyspecific intraocular antibody synthesis in aqueous humor of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases of the eye and to detect the causative antigen in Fuchs heterochromic cyclitis (FHC). DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. METHODS: Intraocular antibody synthesis is detected in aqueous humor with the Antibody Index [AI] (improved Goldmann-Witmer Index) and quantified as specific antibody fraction, F(s) (intraocular specific antibody concentration in percent of intraocular total immunoglobulin G in aqueous humor). Virus detection is by nested polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Fifty-two eyes of 52 patients with clinically defined FHC (aged 16-73 years) had an intraocular synthesis of rubella antibodies (AI > or =1.5). The rubella genome was detected in 5 (18%) of 28 aqueous humor samples investigated, or in 5 (56%) of 9 patients aged <40 years. Oligoclonal IgG was synthesized in 34 (87%) of 39 eyes. Unaffected fellow eyes (n = 3) or cerebrospinal fluid (n = 2) were normal. In FHC the median rubella AI = 20.6 (total range 1.5-309) was seven times higher than in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (n = 15) with uveitis intermedia or periphlebitis retinae. In MS the intraocular rubella antibody synthesis (frequency 73%) is part of a polyspecific immune response (increased measles AI in 80%, varicella zoster virus AI in 47%, herpes simplex virus AI in 23%). The median rubella-F(s) = 2.6% in FHC (range = 0.14%-45.9%) was approximately 40 times higher than in MS, consistent with a virus-driven antibody response in FHC. Noninflammatory controls (50 senile cataracts) had neither an intraocular rubella antibody synthesis (normal AI < or =1.4) nor rubella antigen in aqueous humor. The rubella AI was normal in all patients with an intraocular toxoplasmosis (n = 24), anterior uveitis (n = 27), herpes simplex virus iritis (n = 25), and varicella zoster virus iritis (n = 14). CONCLUSIONS: Fuchs heterochromic cyclitis is a rubella virus-driven disease with persistence of the virus preferentially detected in the younger patients. The proposed laboratory supported diagnosis of FHC is based on the increased rubella Antibody Index. The virus etiology gives a rationale for omitting the ineffective corticosteroid therapy of FHC.     

Evaluation of foldable intraocular lenses in patients with uveitis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate various foldable posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs) after phacoemulsification in patients with uveitis. DESIGN: A prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-nine consecutive patients (60 eyes) with various types of uveitis (anterior, n = 20; posterior, n = 1; panuveitis, n = 37, intermediate, n = 2). INTERVENTION: All patients underwent phacoemulsification with foldable posterior chamber IOL implantation. All eyes were free of active inflammation at the time of surgery. A variety of IOL biomaterials were implanted: acrylic (n = 30), silicone (n = 17), and hydrogel (n = 13). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Detailed examination was performed by one masked observer. Several parameters were compared for each implant biomaterial, including level of best corrected Snellen visual acuity at final follow-up, presence of posterior synechiae, anterior capsular phimosis, posterior capsule opacification, and the degree of cellular deposits on the IOL optic. RESULTS: There were 26 males and 23 females, aged 9 to 83 years (mean, 48 years). Follow-up ranged from 1 to 33 months (mean, 17.03 months). At final follow-up, 56 eyes (93.3%) had an improvement in visual acuity compared with preoperative levels as follows: 34 eyes (56.6%) achieved an improvement of four or more Snellen lines, and 44 eyes (73.3%) achieved 20/30 or better. Giant cells, observed on the IOL optic in 19 eyes (31.7%), were most often seen on the acrylic biomaterial at the 1-month follow-up, although this was not found to be statistically significant. Scratch marks produced by the lens-introducing forceps were seen in 24 eyes (40.0%), mainly on the acrylic and hydrogel optics. Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) occurred in 49 eyes (81.7%), with only 5 eyes requiring laser capsulotomy. There was no association between PCO and the various lens biomaterials. Other causes for reduced visual acuity included glaucomatous optic neuropathy (n = 5) and cystoid macular edema (n = 8). CONCLUSIONS: The use of foldable IOLs in eyes with uveitis is safe, but the optimal biomaterial has yet to be found.     

阿达木单抗治疗非感染性葡萄膜炎研究进展

葡萄膜炎是一种病因及发病机制复杂、治疗棘手、易反复发作的临床常见难治性致盲性眼病,目前认为与自身免疫性炎症反应密切相关。肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)在葡萄膜炎发生发展中起关键促炎因子作用,阿达木单抗(ADA)是针对TNF-α的全人源化重组免疫γ球蛋白单克隆抗体,可特异性结合TNF-α并阻断其与受体(TNFR-1、TNFR-2)结合而发挥生物学效应。本文就ADA治疗非感染性葡萄膜炎的作用机制、有效性及安全性等临床研究进展进行综述。     

Cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation in patients with uveitis

The authors reviewed the outcome of extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) in 44 eyes of 38 patients with uveitis. Thirty-two of the 44 eyes received a posterior chamber lens implant; 87% of these achieved a stable visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Sixty-seven percent (8 of the 12 eyes) not receiving an implant achieved this level. The authors' results and current literature suggest that absolute control, preoperatively and postoperatively, of all uveitis inflammation and careful selection of patients as lens implant candidates are crucial for successful cataract surgery in uveitis patients. Complete removal of lens cortex and placement of an all-PMMA posterior chamber lens within the capsular bag are also believed to be important.     

非感染性葡萄膜炎343例患者的分型、临床表现及并发症

目的 探讨非感染性葡萄膜炎患者的分型、临床表现及并发症.方法 选取2016年5月至2018年2月就诊于中山大学中山眼科中心葡萄膜炎专科并确诊为非感染性葡萄膜炎的患者343例(630眼)病历资料.记录入组患者一般资料,对患者进行详细的眼部检查.非感染性葡萄膜炎的诊断及分型参照2005年葡萄膜炎命名标准化工作组提出的相关标...     

非感染性葡萄膜炎的系统治疗进展

葡萄膜炎是发生于眼内组织的炎症反应。其中,非感染性葡萄膜炎是T细胞介导的自身免疫性炎症反应。尽管非感染性葡萄膜炎的系统治疗方案多种多样,但主要原理都是抑制自身免疫反应。在本综述中,我们回顾了非感染性葡萄膜炎系统治疗的历史,详细叙述了系统治疗的现状,总结了各治疗方案的利弊,同时对非感染性葡萄膜炎的系统治疗进行一定的展望。     

非感染性儿童葡萄膜炎药物治疗进展

儿童葡萄膜炎是儿童致盲常见疾病之一。该病起病隐匿,加之儿童表述能力差,从而延误诊断,给治疗上带来诸多困难并可造成多种并发症。非感染性儿童葡萄膜炎是最常见的儿童葡萄膜炎,糖皮质激素以往一直被用来治疗该病,但因其长期使用可造成严重不良反应而限制了其在儿童中的使用。现就非感染性儿童葡萄膜炎的药物治疗进展进行综述,包括糖皮质激素、免疫抑制剂以及近年来广泛应用于葡萄膜炎的生物制剂。     

阿达木单抗应用于非感染性葡萄膜炎的治疗研究现状

阿达木单抗（adalimumab,ADA)是一种抗肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)的重组 IgG1,是完全人源化的单克隆抗体,对可溶性及膜性TNF-α有高度亲和性,并能与之特异性结合。非感染性葡萄膜炎是指除外感染因素及伪装综合征等的一类炎症性眼病,常累及葡萄膜、视网膜、视网膜血管及玻璃体,其发病率及致盲率均较高。近年来,ADA在非感染性葡萄膜炎治疗方面的有效性、持续性以及安全性已被初步证实。本文就ADA在非感染性葡萄膜炎治疗中的研究现状展开综述。     

Phacoemulsification cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in patients with uveitis

PURPOSE: To analyze the outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in patients with uveitis. SETTING: Miyata Eye Hospital, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki, Japan. METHODS: The records of 95 patients (131 eyes) with uveitis who had phacoemulsification cataract extraction and IOL implantation between 1990 and 2001 were retrospectively examined. The postoperative visual outcomes and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the 36 men and 59 women was 61.7 years (range 30 to 87 years) At the final follow-up examination, 111 eyes (84.7%) had improved visual acuity and 97 eyes (74.0%) had a final visual acuity of 0.5 or better. Patients with Beh?et's disease had significantly worse visual outcomes than patients with other clinical etiologies of uveitis such as human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 uveitis and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. In 17 eyes (13.0%), relapse of intraocular inflammation occurred within 6 months after surgery; the rate of relapse was highest in patients with Beh?et's disease (35.2%). Posterior synechias occurred in 8 eyes (6.1%), pupillary capture in 1 eye (0.8%), intraocular pressure elevation in 11 eyes (8.4%), and cystoid macula edema in 8 eyes (6.1%). In 31 eyes (23.7%), posterior capsule opacification required neodymium:YAG capsulotomy. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract extraction and IOL implantation in patients with uveitis were satisfactory. Patients with Beh?et's disease related to intraocular inflammation, however, appeared to have a higher risk for complications and therefore worse outcomes than patients with other clinical etiologies of uveitis.     

Comparison of orbital floor triamcinolone acetonide and oral prednisolone for cataract surgery management in patients with non-infectious uveitis

Purpose  

To compare orbital floor triamcinolone acetonide and oral prednisolone in cataract surgery in patients with chronic non-infectious uveitis with regard to visual outcome, postoperative inflammation and macular edema.