title: Management of sight-threatening uveitis: new therapeutic options.
abstract: Over the past 2 decades therapy for the treatment of intraocular inflammation (uveitis) has developed into a highly differentiated approach with an increasing number of drug options. This paper primarily summarises literature from the past 5 years (2000 to May 2004), gives an update on systemic immunosuppressive therapy for non-infectious uveitis and speculates about new developments that could become relevant in the near future for the treatment of uveitis patients. The spectrum of immunosuppressive drugs has been notably expanded by tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, but with some limitations to uveitis. Behcet's disease is an example of uveitis where a multisystem disorder can affect the eye very severely. This clinical example has been used to investigate the utility of many different types of immunosuppressive therapies and the clinical approach is extensively discussed in this review. An accompanying table summarises the proposed mode of action, standard dosage, common adverse effects, as well as estimated cost of current treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Uveitis Center, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 350, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany. Matthias.Becker@uveitiscenter.de
authors.forename: Matthias D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Justine R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Max
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiehn
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000477:Alkylating Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000963:Antimetabolites; D001688:Biological Products; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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