title: Dexamethasone intravitreal implant: an effective adjunctive treatment for recalcitrant noninfectious uveitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our experience in treating recalcitrant and severe cases of noninfectious posterior uveitis with the 0.7-mg dexamethasone intravitreal implant as adjunctive anti-inflammatory treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study. Twelve patients (8 females; 4 males; 14 affected eyes, 15 implants) with severe recalcitrant uveitis were treated. Patients had an inadequate control of uveitis despite different immunosuppressants and periocular corticosteroid therapy. Primary outcome measures evaluated were: decrease in uveitis activity, improvement in visual acuity, reduction of macular thickness, and occurrence of adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uveitis activity decreased in all patients after the implant. The mean follow-up time from injection was 9 months. Best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/80 to 20/40 at the end of follow-up. The mean retinal thickness improved from 496 to 226 µm. Adverse events encountered were: 3 eyes with intraocular pressure elevation, 1 vitreous hemorrhage and 1 subconjunctival hemorrhage. Three patients reduced the daily systemic corticosteroid dosage after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 0.7-mg dexamethasone intravitreal implant appears to be a novel and promising adjunctive treatment for patients with severe posterior noninfectious uveitis recalcitrant to different immunosuppressive agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. miserocchi.elisabetta@hsr.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miserocchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Modorati
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bandello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015866:Uveitis, Posterior / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone