title: Rituximab and Acute Retinal Necrosis in a Patient with Scleromalacia and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rituximab is a widely used biologic agent, which has shown favourable results in the treatment of vasculitis. But immunosuppressive treatment also bears the risk of severe complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient with rheumatoid arthritis, progressive scleromalacia, and acute retinal necrosis on therapy with rituximab is reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the first time, a correlation between rituximab and acute retinal necrosis in a patient with progressive rheumatoid scleromalacia is shown.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although rituximab is a promising biologic agent for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, it bears the risk of reactivation of viral infections, including the onset of acute retinal necrosis.
authors.affiliation: a ÓMMA Eye Center , Zurich , Switzerland and.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.affiliation: a ÓMMA Eye Center , Zurich , Switzerland and.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.affiliation: a ÓMMA Eye Center , Zurich , Switzerland and.|b University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bernauer
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000821:virology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015882:Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015423:Scleritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D011241:Prednisone; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: Acute retinal necrosis; herpes simplex virus; necrotizing scleritis; ocular inflammation; rituximab