title: Emerging drugs for the treatment of uveitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uveitis is a potentially visually debilitating disease when untreated or poorly controlled. Chronic intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis often requires systemic immunosuppressive therapy to prevent such visual loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review discusses existing treatments for ocular inflammation including corticosteroids, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, T-cell inhibitors, and biologic agents. Potential drugs being studied in clinical trials are introducing new routes for local corticosteroid delivery, and novel immunomodulators are exploring new targets of the inflammatory cascade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment options for uveitis have expanded from even a decade ago. However, more clinical trials and research are needed to further our understanding of the mechanisms of ocular inflammation and the safety and efficacy of novel therapies.
authors.affiliation: The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, The Division of Ocular Immunology, Department of Ophthalmology , 600 North Wolfe Street, Woods Bldg, Rm 476, Baltimore, MD 21287 , USA.
authors.forename: Theresa G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Thorne
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000477:Alkylating Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000963:Antimetabolites; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors