title: Antithymocyte globulin treatment of orbital Wegener granulomatosis: a follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the follow-up of patients with orbital Wegener granulomatosis after antithymocyte globulin treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with ocular/orbital Wegener granulomatosis refractory to standard treatment were selected for immunotherapy with rabbit antithymocyte globulin intravenously. The specific ocular/orbital symptoms were monitored in patients with a vision-threatening form of Wegener granulomatosis or a life-threatening form with ocular symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient had a complete remission, two patients had remissions but still needed additional treatment, and one patient remained refractory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In selected patients, antithymocyte globulin immunotherapy may present an alternative when vision or life is threatened by orbital Wegener granulomatosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kool
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Keizer
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Siegert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents