Retinal Function in Patients with Adalimumab Treatment: Long-term Follow-up with Microperimetry

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To examine the effects of a biological treatment (adalimumab) on visual function in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and in uveitic patients without macular edema during one-year treatment with adalimumab.

Methods: Sixteen eyes of eight consecutive Caucasian patients treated with adalimumab were followed up using microperimetry (MAIA; CenterVue, Padova, Italy). Five patients had ankylosing spondylitis without uveitis, three patients had panuveitis without macular edema. Macular sensitivity and macular integrity were recorded.

Results: During six-month follow-up, the average threshold did not change significantly (p = .649). Macular integrity was stable (p = .225). The macular sensitivity point analysis showed no significant effects (examination F(3,56) = 0.494 and p = .688; point*examination F(108,2016) = 0.688 and p = .994) during the follow-up.

Conclusions: During one-year follow-up, adalimumab did not affect macular function, unlike the well-established maculopathy induced by hydroxychloroquine. Microperimetry may be considered when following-up macular function in patients undertaking adalimumab.

Keywords:

• Adalimumab
• microperimetry
• spondyloarthropathy
• uveitis

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. No financial support was received for this submission.