Intravitreal Adalimumab for Refractory Uveitis-Related Macular Edema

Abstract

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal adalimumab injections on refractory cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to noninfectious uveitis. Prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. Eight consecutive patients with controlled uveitis and chronic, refractory CME who had failed steroid treatment. Intravitreal adalimumab injections were given monthly for 3 months. Mean change in central retinal thickness (CRT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT); secondary objective was the mean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Five of the eight patients completed the 6-month follow-up. For all 5 patients, the changes in BCVA from baseline to 3 months were not statistically significant (P=0.070). Similarly, the change in BCVA from baseline to 6 months was not statistically significant (P=1.0). The mean CRT at baseline was 692 microm. The changes from baseline to 3 months were not statistically significant (P=0.466); the changes from baseline to 6 months were also not statistically significant (P=0.808). We did not observe any ocular or systemic adverse effects. Intravitreal adalimumab showed no efficacy in improving BCVA or reducing CRT in patients with chronic uveitic macular edema.