title: The effect of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs on retinal function in the electrophysiological ex vivo model of the isolated perfused vertebrate retina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have been suggested in the treatment of inflammatory ophthalmological diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of these DMARDs on bovine retinal function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bovine retina preparations were perfused with a standard solution. After recording stable electroretinograms the nutrient solution was substituted by a DMARD medium with varying concentrations of different drugs (etanercept and infliximab) for 30 min. Afterwards b-wave recovery was observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant decreases in the b-wave amplitude (p < 0.05) were found for etanercept 0.5 mg/ml (p = 0.0022). Infliximab 2 mg/ml (p = 0.1276) did not result in any statistically significant b-wave reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented data suggest that infliximab might have the better safety profile than etanercept.
authors.affiliation: University Eye Hospital, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Mahdy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranjbar
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grisanti
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lüke
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lüke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects*; D000069285:Infliximab; D023421:Models, Animal; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab