title: LONG-TERM EFFICACY OF SYSTEMIC INFLIXIMAB IN RECALCITRANT RETINAL VASCULITIS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of systemic infliximab for the induction of remission in patients with retinal vasculitis, inadequately responsive to other immunomodulatory therapy, based on fluorescein angiography grading for retinal vasculitis evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 60 patients with retinal vasculitis, from the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution in Cambridge, MA. Response to therapy was based on analysis of serial fluorescein angiography and fundus photography, including a baseline angiogram before initiation of infliximab.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty patients received infliximab therapy between July 2007 and July 2012 at Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution for a diagnosis of retinal vasculitis. All had previously showed a poor clinical response to other immunomodulatory regimens, or ceased therapy due to intolerable side effects. The initial dose of infliximab was 5 mg/kg in all patients and remained at this dose for the extent of treatment in 57 (95%) patients. At 6 months, 45 of 51 (88.23%) patients were maintaining remission with therapy, 5 (9.8%) were in partial remission, and 1 patient had failed. At 12 months, 39 of 39 (100%) patients were maintaining remission with therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infliximab is effective for the treatment of recalcitrant noninfectious retinal vasculitis, refractory to conventional immunomodulatory therapy.
authors.affiliation: *Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution, Cambridge, Massachusetts; †Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and ‡Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Pramod K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Gueorgui T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Markov
authors.forename: Asima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bajwa
authors.forename: C Stephen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D031300:Retinal Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000069285:Infliximab