title: LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF RITUXIMAB THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH NONINFECTIOUS POSTERIOR UVEITIS REFRACTORY TO CONVENTIONAL IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess long-term effectiveness of rituximab therapy for refractory noninfectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series. Patients diagnosed with recalcitrant noninfectious posterior uveitis who were treated with rituximab intravenous infusions between 2010 and 2015 were included. Patients underwent best-corrected visual acuity testing and fluorescein angiography evidence of disk or vascular staining at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Patients had at least 24 months of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven patients (21 eyes) with refractory posterior uveitis treated with intravenous rituximab were included. Nine (81.8%) patients were female. Mean follow-up was 29.3 ± 7.8 months. rituximab was administered as complementary therapy because of previous inefficacy of other therapies in 7 (63.7%) patients, and it was the only treatment in four (36.3%) patients who did not tolerate other drugs. Inflammation signs by fluorescein angiography were controlled in nine (81.8%) patients at the end of follow-up. Baseline best-corrected visual acuity was 20/80 (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution 0.6 ± 0.4), and final best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 (0.3 ± 0.5) (P = 0.005). No significant side effects were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rituximab therapy was associated with stability and remission of recalcitrant noninfectious posterior uveitis in patients who did not tolerate or did not respond to other therapies.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), Waltham, Massachusetts.|Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation (OIUF), Waltham, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Andres F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Lasave
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), Waltham, Massachusetts.|Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation (OIUF), Waltham, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Caiyun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), Waltham, Massachusetts.|Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation (OIUF), Waltham, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), Waltham, Massachusetts.|Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation (OIUF), Waltham, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Khawla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abusamra
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), Waltham, Massachusetts.|Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation (OIUF), Waltham, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Neerav
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lamba
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), Waltham, Massachusetts.|Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation (OIUF), Waltham, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valdes Navarro
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), Waltham, Massachusetts.|Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation (OIUF), Waltham, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Halea
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meese
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), Waltham, Massachusetts.|Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation (OIUF), Waltham, Massachusetts.|Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: C Stephen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015866:Uveitis, Posterior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab