The efficacy and safety of adalimumab in ocular inflammatory disease

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in the management of ocular inflammation at our institution.

Methods:

We performed a review of all patients with active ocular inflammation treated with adalimumab at our institution.

Results:

Seventy eyes of 49 patients were reviewed. The mean duration of follow-up was 19.6 months. Therapy with an average of 2.1 immunomodulatory agents had been attempted prior to adalimumab therapy. At 1-year follow-up, adalimumab was effective in achieving quiescence in 33 eyes (47%). The most common side effects were injection-site reactions, arthralgias, and nausea, occurring in two patients each. Adalimumab was discontinued due to side effects in 12 patients.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that adalimumab is an effective and safe therapeutic modality in ocular inflammation.

Keywords::

• uveitis
• biologic response modifier
• TNF-α
• adverse effects
• therapeutic outcomes
• scleritis
• peripheral ulcerative keratitis