High-dose infliximab prophylaxis in endotoxin-induced uveitis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study to analyze the preventive effect of high-dose infliximab in endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rabbits.


METHODS
An experimental study was conducted on 64 rabbits. Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide endotoxin was intravitreally injected. Infliximab was intravenously (i.v.) injected 24 h before the intravitreal injection (20 mg/kg). The animals were randomly assigned to five groups: group A, saline intravitreal injection; group B, Infliximab i.v. group C, infliximab + saline; group D, intravitreal endotoxin and group E, infliximab i.v. + intravitreal endotoxin. With two masked observers, a microscopic examination of aqueous humor (cells, tumor necrosis factor [TNF] alpha) and aqueous protein level were performed 24 h after an endotoxin injection and 48 h after an infliximab infusion.


RESULTS
Infliximab treatment, at a dose of 20 mg/kg, significantly improved all the parameters. Inflammatory cell infiltration was significantly reduced in the iris, ciliary body, and anterior chamber (U Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.01). Associated with a lower level of TNF-alpha and protein exudate in aqueous humor (U Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Infliximab, at a dose of 20 mg/kg, is effective in the prophylaxis of the EIU.
Diaz-Llopis
Manuel
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Uveitis Unit, Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, Spain. manuel.diaz@uv.es
García-Delpech
Salvador
S
Salom
David
D
Udaondo
Patricia
P
Bosch-Morell
Francisco
F
Quijada
Arturo
A
Romero
Francisco J
FJ
Amselem
Luis
L
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004731:Endotoxins; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000069285:Infliximab; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007498:Iris / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*