title: Biologic agents in the management of inflammatory eye diseases.
abstract: Biologics are a new class of drugs that comprise recombinant cytokines and monoclonal antibodies directed against selected cell-surface markers. They include the tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab; the antilymphocyte drugs rituximab and alemtuzumab; the interleukin-2 receptor blocker daclizumab; and recombinant interferon-alpha. This article reviews the rationale and current evidence for their use in uveitis, scleritis, and orbital inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Macular Research Unit, Centre for Eye Research Australia, 32 Gisborne Street, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia.
authors.forename: Kira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michalova
authors.forename: Lyndell
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015423:Scleritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001688:Biological Products; D016207:Cytokines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha