Infliximab in chronic ocular inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
Infliximab is a chimeric antibody which binds tumor necrosis factor (TNF). It is effective in several chronic inflammatory conditions, including sarcoidosis.


METHODS
We report our experience with infliximab in chronic ocular inflammation as part of a retrospective review of all patients treated for chronic inflammatory ocular conditions seen over a 2-year period at our institution.


RESULTS
14 patients with various underlying ocular conditions were treated during the previous two years including patients with sarcoidosis (7), Crohn's disease (2), birdshot choroiditis (2), idiopathic disease (2), Volt-Koyanagi-Harada (1) and Behçet's disease (1). All patients had persistent inflammation despite systemic immunosuppressive agents and all but one patient experienced marked improvement in ocular inflammation with infliximab. One patient was non-compliant and non-evaluable; four patients, who had previously received etanercept with either no response (3 patients) or subsequent relapse (1 patient), responded to infliximab.


CONCLUSIONS
Infliximab is an effective therapy in chronic inflammatory eye disease, especially when related to sarcoidosis.
Baughman
R P
RP
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0565, USA. bob.baughman@uc.edu
Bradley
D A
DA
Lower
E E
EE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab