title: New biologic drugs: anti-interleukin therapy.
abstract: Interleukins (ILs) are cytokines which are defined by their capability to convey information between leukocytes, in this way directing proliferation, activation, and migration and also regulation of the cells. Data from anti-IL treatments in systemic autoimmune diseases have shown these drugs to be beneficial and to have a satisfactory safety profile and tolerance. Recent publications of small case series suggest that several anti-IL drugs have considerable efficacy in treating otherwise refractory uveitis. Anti-IL therapy, therefore, might constitute an option for the treatment of uveitis resistant to corticosteroids, classical immunosuppressives, or tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors. However, due to high costs and possible long-term risks, anti-IL agents should currently be reserved to selected uveitis patients and be administered only under close interdisciplinary monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. christoph.tappeiner@insel.ch
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tappeiner
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hennig
authors.forename: Arnd
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heiligenhaus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007378:Interleukins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007378:Interleukins