Infliximab in chronic ocular inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

Infliximab is a chimeric antibody which binds tumor necrosis factor (TNF). It is effective in several chronic inflammatory conditions, including sarcoidosis.

METHODS

We report our experience with infliximab in chronic ocular inflammation as part of a retrospective review of all patients treated for chronic inflammatory ocular conditions seen over a 2-year period at our institution.

RESULTS

14 patients with various underlying ocular conditions were treated during the previous two years including patients with sarcoidosis (7), Crohn's disease (2), birdshot choroiditis (2), idiopathic disease (2), Volt-Koyanagi-Harada (1) and Behçet's disease (1). All patients had persistent inflammation despite systemic immunosuppressive agents and all but one patient experienced marked improvement in ocular inflammation with infliximab. One patient was non-compliant and non-evaluable; four patients, who had previously received etanercept with either no response (3 patients) or subsequent relapse (1 patient), responded to infliximab.

CONCLUSION

Infliximab is an effective therapy in chronic inflammatory eye disease, especially when related to sarcoidosis.