Efficacy of B Cell Depletion Therapy with Rituximab in Refractory Chronic Recurrent Uveitis Associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of B cell depletion therapy with the chimeric mouse/human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab for refractory chronic recurrent granulomatous uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

Methods

Retrospective study of 9 patients (18 eyes) who failed to respond to conventional combination immunosuppressive therapy.

Results

All the patients received 3 rituximab infusions. The follow-up period after initiation of rituximab therapy ranged from 9 to 36 months (mean ±SD, 19.2 ± 10.1). All patients achieved remission and visual acuity significantly improved (p < .001). Rituximab provided corticosteroid-sparing effect along with control of inflammation. No rituximab-related complications were observed.

Conclusions

Rituximab is effective for the treatment of refractory chronic recurrent granulomatous uveitis associated with VKH disease.

KEYWORDS:

• B cells
• biologics
• rituximab
• uveitis
• Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ms. Connie B. Unisa-Marfil for secretarial assistance.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by King Saud University through Vice Deanship of Research Chair, Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Research Chair in Ophthalmology (Abu El-Asrar MA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.