title: Rituximab in the Treatment of Refractory Noninfectious Scleritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the outcomes of the use of rituximab in the treatment of refractory noninfectious scleritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the medical charts of patients with noninfectious scleritis refractory to conventional immunomodulatory therapy who were seen at the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution between 2005 and 2015. The primary outcome measure in this study was steroid-free remission. Secondary outcomes were favorable response (decrease in scleritis activity score) and decrease in steroid dependence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 15 patients, with a mean follow-up duration of 34 months. Fourteen patients (93.3%) showed a clinical improvement, with 13 (86.6%) achieving a scleritis activity score of zero at 6 months. To date, 2 patients continue to enjoy durable drug-free remission (28 and 32 months follow-up). There was only 1 adverse effect recorded (infusion hypotension) requiring cessation of rituximab.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rituximab can be an effective treatment modality for recalcitrant noninfectious scleritis and, in some, can result in long-term durable drug-free remission.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution, Waltham, Massachusetts; Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Waltham, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution, Waltham, Massachusetts; Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Waltham, Massachusetts; Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Merih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oray
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution, Waltham, Massachusetts; Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Waltham, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cocho
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution, Waltham, Massachusetts; Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Waltham, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: sfoster@mersi.com.
authors.forename: C Stephen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015423:Scleritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab