Update in treatment of uveitic macular edema
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Clinical Ophthalmology
Macular edema (ME) is the most common sight-threatening complication in uveitis. The diagnostic and therapeutic management of the uveitic macular edema (UME) might be challenging due to the complex diagnostic workup and the difficulties physicians face to find the underlying cause, and due to its usually recurrent nature and the fact that it can be refractory to conventional treatment. Some of the mild cases can be treated with topical steroids, which can be combined with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. However, immunomodulators such as methotrexate, tacrolimus, azathioprine, cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil together with anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF alpha) monoclonal antibodies such as adalimumab and infliximab, may be required to control the inflammation and the associated ME in refractory cases, or when an underlying disease is present. This review of the literature will focus mostly on the non-infectious UME.
Medical treatment of macular edema in patients with uveitis
Macular Edema, 2000
To determine the efficacy of medical treatment of cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients with uveitis. Retrospective study of 40 patients (57 eyes) with uveitis and CME. Inclusion criteria were presence of CME with minimal and no macular pathology, or vascular disease which could account for CME. Patients who had undergone intraocular surgery or had visual acuity (VA) of > or = 20/40 were excluded. The diagnosis of CME was based on clinical and/or angiographic findings. Three treatment groups were defined: (1) transseptal injection of steroids (n=13 eyes); (2) systemic non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (n=11 eyes); both 1 and 2 (n=33 eyes). Overall, 79% of eyes improved 3 or more lines of Snellen VA after treatment: 51% improved 4 or more lines. The average number of lines improved was 3.8 for eyes treated with transseptal injections of steroids, 2.9 for eyes treated with NSAIDs, and 4 for eyes treated with both. For all 3 treatment groups between 60-70% of eyes improving 2 or more lines reached best VA only after a minimum of 6 months of follow up. CME, a vision threatening complication of uveitis, respond fairly well to medical treatment; however, the best VA is achieved after several months. The improvement in VA did not differ markedly among the three treatment groups.
Advances in the treatment of intermediate and posterior uveitis
Expert Review of Ophthalmology, 2008
Owing to the propensity for visual loss, immunosuppressive treatment in the form of systemic and/or local therapy is often required for the management of noninfective intermediate and posterior uveitis. Systemic corticosteroids are often used initially as they are fast acting, potent and inexpensive. However, other agents may be introduced, either owing to a lack of response to the steroids or to reduce the amount of corticosteroid required. This review explores new therapeutic options and will therefore concentrate on newer steroid-sparing immunosuppressives-the antimetabolite mycophenolate mofetil and biological agents, such as infliximab and interferon)-and on local therapy, such as intravitreal injections and implants). Well-conducted, randomized clinical trials are still required to confirm their benefit.
Ranibizumab for Refractory Uveitis-related Macular Edema
American Journal of Ophthalmology, 2009
To evaluate the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab injections (Lucentis; Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA) on refractory cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients with controlled uveitis who have failed oral and regional corticosteroid treatment, the mainstays of current medical therapy. • DESIGN: Prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. • METHODS: Seven consecutive patients with controlled uveitis and refractory CME who had failed corticosteroid treatment were studied. One eligible patient chose not to participate and another did not complete follow-up for nonmedical reasons. Intravitreal ranibizumab injections (0.5 mg) were given monthly for 3 months, followed by reinjection as needed. The primary outcome was the mean change in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (VA) from baseline to 3 months, and the secondary objective was the mean change in central retinal thickness (CRT) on ocular coherence tomography. Six-month outcomes were also assessed. • RESULTS: At 3 months, the mean increase in acuity for the 6 patients who completed follow-up was 13 letters (2.5 lines), and the mean decrease in CRT was 357 m. Both VA and CRT improved significantly between baseline and 3 months (P ؍ .03 for each). Although most patients required reinjection, this benefit was maintained at 6 months. There were no significant ocular or systemic adverse effects. • CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal ranibizumab led to an increase in VA and regression of uveitis-associated CME in patients refractory to or intolerant of standard corticosteroid therapy. Further studies of this promising treatment are warranted.
Inflammation & Allergy-Drug Targets, 2013
Ocular inflammatory disorders constitute a sight-threatening group of diseases that might be managed according to their severity. Their treatment guidelines experience constant changes with new agents that improve the results obtained with former drugs. Nowadays we can make use of a five step protocol in which topical, periocular and systemic corticosteroids remain as the main therapy for non-infectious uveitis. In addition, immunosuppresive drugs can be added in order to enhance the anti-inflammatory effects and to play the role of corticosteroid-sparing agents. These can be organized in four other steps: cyclosporine and methotrexate in a second one; azathioprine, mycophenolate and tacrolimus in a third step; biological anti-TNF drugs in fourth position; and a last one with cyclophosphamide and chlorambucil. In the present review we go through the main characteristics and complications of all these treatments and make a rational of this five-step treatment protocol for non-infectious posterior uveitis.
Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics : the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2017
To evaluate the effectiveness and the systemic corticosteroid sparing effect of a single intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant in patients with chronic noninfectious uveitic macular edema (UME). Data from 22 eyes treated with DEX implant for UME related to systemic or ocular-confined noninfectious diseases were retrospectively analyzed. The mean systemic prednisone (or equivalent) dosage significantly decreased at 3- and 6-month follow-up evaluations compared to baseline (P = 0.002 and P = 0.01, respectively). Compared to baseline, central macular thickness values significantly decreased at 1-, 3-, and 6-month evaluations after the implantation (P < 0.0001). The mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) value gradually improved at 1-, 3-, and 6-month visits compared to baseline (P = 0.009, P = 0.0004, and P = 0.0001, respectively). At fluorescein angiography, active retinal vasculitis was identified in 11 (50%) eyes at baseline, 3 (13.6%) eyes at 1- and 3-month follow-up, and i...
Novel Intraocular Therapy in Non-infectious Uveitis of the Posterior Segment of the Eye
Medical hypothesis, discovery and innovation in ophthalmology, 2013
This article reviews the new clinically relevant data regarding the intraocular treatment of non-infectious uveitis. Triamcinolone acetonide is the most commonly used intravitreal corticosteroid for treatment of uveitis and uveitic macular oedema. The drug is available at low cost but it is associated with a high risk of raised intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract and is not licensed for intraocular use. Dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex®) appears to have a better safety profile, and a slightly long-lasting effect than triamcinolone acetonide. Fluocinolone acetonide implant (Retisert®) implant allows the release of corticosteroids at a constant rate over a 3-year period, but it requires surgical placement and its use is associated with a very high risk of cataracts and raised intraocular pressure. Iluvien® is another fluocinolone acetonide implant that could represent a more convenient treatment option for such cases in the future as it can be inserted into the vitreous cavity throu...