Mycophenolate Mofetil for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis-associated Uveitis

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS)-associated uveitis.

Methods: In this retrospective, interventional case series, patients with MS-associated uveitis who were treated by MMF as an adjunct therapy to systemic corticosteroid were studied. Patients’ demographics, clinical course, response to treatment, and complications were assessed.

Results: A total of 30 eyes of 15 patients with a mean age of 34.5 ± 8.3 years were studied. In three patients (20%), onset of uveitis preceded the diagnosis of MS. The course of MS was relapsing–remitting in 11 patients (73.3%) and secondary progressive in four patients (26.7%). At 1 year after institution of MMF, all the patients were on oral prednisolone ≤ 7.5 mg/day, all eyes were quiet without macular edema, and 53.3% of eyes gained visual improvement. Supplemental periocular and intraocular injections were needed during the first 6 months after starting MMF therapy. The systemic adverse effects were transient and minor in severity.

Conclusions: MMF had beneficial effects on vision and intraocular inflammation with an acceptable safety profile.

Keywords:

• Multiple sclerosis
• mycophenolate mofetil
• uveitis

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.