Biological therapy of uveitis in children

Abstract

Introduction: Biological therapy can be used in uveitis in children since 2016. With ophthalmological indication only adalimumab therapy can be started. Adalimumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha.Objective: To summarize our experience with patients receiving adalimumab for pediatric non-infectious uveitis.Patients and methods: We investigated our juvenile patients of non-infectious uveitis treated with adalimumab be-tween 2017 and 2021 in a retrospective case series at the Department of Ophthalmology, Szeged University. Results: Between 01 January, 2017 and 31 May, 2021, we examined 46 children with uveitis. The mean age of these 23 girls and 23 boys was 11 years. 21 of them had juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 14 had infectious uveitis, 3 had hae-matological disorders, 8 had idiopathic uveitis. Adalimumab was given to 11 patients because of severe, chronic uveitis. There were 3 boys and 8 girls, their mean age was 10 years. Adalimumab was given according to the licence of the European Medicines Agency. Indication was anterior uveitis at 6 children, panuveitis at 5 children. Adali-mumab can be given to children over 2 years, who have chronic, non-infectious, anterior uveitis. Children with panuveitis received the therapy by the help of a pediatric rheumatologist.Conclusion: The significance of pediatric uveitis and its therapy is emergent. Our aim was to preserve vision and de-crease the possibilities of side effects and to provide a better life for these uveitic children. Early diagnosis, adequate therapy and regular ophthalmological check-ups are important. Children treated with adalimumab have good visual acuity due to the effectiveness of the therapy. No new ocular side effect was detected at the children treated with adalimumab.