INTRAVITREAL INFLIXIMAB FOR THE TREATMENT OF SIGHT-THREATENING CHRONIC NONINFECTIOUS UVEITIS

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is known to play an important role in various immune-mediated ocular diseases. Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-alpha, has been used for the treatment of various chronic systemic and ocular inflammatory diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravitreal injection of infliximab on the visual acuity and central macular thickness in patients with chronic noninfectious uveitis. Ten eyes of 7 patients with chronic persistent noninfectious uveitis who were nonresponsive to conventional previous medications during the previous 3 months were included in this study. The patients received intravitreal injection of 1.5 mg/0.15 mL infliximab. Mean best-corrected visual acuity and mean central macular thickness 1 day before and 4 weeks after the injection were evaluated and compared. Mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution before and after injection was 1.37 ± 0.43 and 0.67 ± 0.56, respectively, with statistically significant improvement after injection (P = 0.005). The mean central macular thickness before and after injection was 673.20 ± 338.39 μm and 456.40 ± 317.46 μm, respectively, with a significant decrease in the central macular thickness after the injection (P = 0.005). Intravitreal injection of infliximab may improve the visual acuity and decrease the central macular thickness in patients with chronic noninfectious uveitis and significant visual loss and central macular edema.