Long-term success treating inflammatory epiretinal neovascularization with immunomodulatory therapy.

Abstract

This study aims to report the long-term outcomes of uveitis-associated optic disc and epiretinal neovascularization (NV) treated with immunomodulatory therapy alone. This is a retrospective, multi-center chart review conducted at Northwestern University (Chicago, IL) and San Raffaele Scientific Institute (Milan, Italy) from 2014 to 2021 of patients with optic disc and/or retinal neovascularization associated with uveitis. The data collected included age at the time of NV detection, gender, medications, and follow-up period. Imaging was reviewed if available. Eight eyes of six patients were identified. The mean age was 22years (range 10-52years); the median follow-up was 3years (range 6months to 7years). All eyes presented with active NV at the time of uveitis onset; 7 eyes were treatment-naïve. None had clinical or angiographic evidence of retinal ischemia. All patients received a variable combination of local steroids, systemic steroids, and systemic immunosuppression. Complete resolution of uveitic NV occurred in all eyes within a median of 8weeks (ranging 2-20weeks) from initiating treatment. No NV recurrence was noted. Immunomodulatory therapy alone may be successful in achieving long-term control of uveitis-associated NV, without the use of destructive measures.