Thalidomide effectiveness for bilateral chronic idiopathic anterior uveitis in a three-year-old child.
The authors report their experience with thalidomide in the treatment of a bilateral chronic idiopathic uveitis, in a 3-year-old female. This case was complicated by the presence of a cataract and an iris neovascularization in the right eye; furthermore it was partially unresponsive to a conventional anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapy. Oral thalidomide induced slow but dramatic regression of the inflammation, and a significant reabsorption of neovascular tufts, both in slitlamp examination and on iris fluorescein angiography. The authors emphasize the efficacy of thalidomide as anti-inflammatory agent and as inhibitor of neoangiogenesis, reporting the recent literature about the use of this drug in ophthalmology.
Parentin
F
F
Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital 'Burlo Garofolo', Trieste, Italy. parentin@libero.it
Da Pozzo
S
S
Lepore
L
L
Perissutti
P
P
D000284:Administration, Oral; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007498:Iris / Q000098:blood supply; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013792:Thalidomide