title: Rheumatoid arthritis-associated necrotizing scleritis and peripheral ulcerative keratitis treated successfully with infliximab.
abstract: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), necrotizing scleritis, an ocular manifestation of a systemic vasculitic process, is associated with significant ocular morbidity and high mortality. We present a 60-year-old man with RA who developed necrotizing scleritis and peripheral ulcerative keratitis. The scleritis was refractory to local measures, systemic corticosteroids, and cyclophosphamide but responded rapidly to infliximab. Our case illustrates that biologic agents may be considered in refractory cases of sight- and life-threatening scleritis.
authors.affiliation: Education Centre, Wansbeck General Hospital/Northumbria NHS Trust, Northumberland, UK. ish@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Ismael I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Atchia
authors.forename: C Elizabeth
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: R W D
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D000069285:Infliximab; D007634:Keratitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D015423:Scleritis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab