Efficacy of adalimumab and infliximab in recalcitrant retinal vasculitis inadequately responsive to other immunomodulatory therapies

Efficacy and Safety of Tocilizumab in the Management of Non-Infectious Uveitis Failed with Conventional Immunomodulatory and Anti-TNFα Therapies

PURPOSE

To determine the outcomes of intravenous (IV) tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with non-infectious uveitis who failed with conventional immunomodulatory and anti-TNFα therapies.

METHODS

Records of seven patients with non-infectious uveitis treated with monthly IV TCZ (4-10 mg/kg) or biweekly IV TCZ (8 mg/kg) were reviewed. Outcome measures were changes in visual acuity, anterior chamber cell and flare grade, vitreous haze, central subfield thickness (CST), and fluorescein angiography (FA) score.

RESULTS

Ten eyes of seven patients received TCZ therapy. Median age of patients was 14 (range, 7-24) years. Median duration of TCZ therapy was 15 (range, 5-32) months. Mean CST reduced from 373 ± 101.0 μm to 298.2 ± 40.3 μm. Mean FA score reduced from 12.5 ± 4.3 to 3.6 ± 2.6. One patient developed elevated liver transaminases.

CONCLUSION

IV TCZ is a potentially effective and safe therapeutic option for the management of refractory non-infectious uveitis.

Impact of HLA-B51 on Uveitis and Retinal Vasculitis: Data from the AIDA International Network Registries on Ocular Inflammatory Disorders

PURPOSE

The clinical relevance of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) subtypes such as HLA-B51 on Behçet's disease (BD)-related uveitis and non-infectious uveitis (NIU) unrelated to BD remains largely unknown.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected from the International AIDA Network Registry for BD and for NIU. We assessed differences between groups (NIU unrelated to BD and positive for HLA-B51, BD-related uveitis positive for HLA-B51 and BD-related uveitis negative for HLA-B51) in terms of long-term ocular complications, visual acuity (VA) measured by best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anatomical pattern, occurrence of retinal vasculitis (RV) and macular edema over time.

RESULTS

Records of 213 patients (341 eyes) were analyzed. No differences in complications were observed (p = 0.465). With regard to VA, a significant difference was detected in median BCVA (p = 0.046), which was not maintained after Bonferroni correction (p = 0.060). RV was significantly more prevalent in NIU-affected patients who tested positive for HLA-B51, irrespective of the systemic diagnosis of BD (p = 0.025). No differences emerged in the occurrence of macular edema (p = 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with NIU testing positive for HLA-B51 exhibit an increased likelihood of RV throughout disease course, irrespective of a systemic diagnosis of BD. The rate of complications as well as VA are comparable between NIU cases unrelated to BD testing positive for HLA-B51 and uveitis associated with BD. Therefore, it is advisable to perform the HLA-B typing in patients with NIU or retinal vasculitis, even in the absence of typical BD features.

Efficacy and Safety of Switching from Adalimumab Originator to SB5, Adalimumab Biosimilar for Noninfectious Uveitis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of switching from adalimumab originator (Humira, AbbVie) to SB5, adalimumab biosimilar (Adalloce, Samsung Bioepis) in patients with noninfectious uveitis (NIU).

METHODS

Fifteen patients (29 eyes) with NIU who were switched from adalimumab originator to SB5 and followed up for 6 months or longer were retrospectively included. Data consisted of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR), intraocular pressure (IOP, mmHg), anterior chamber (AC) cell grade, anterior vitreous (AV) cell grade, vitreous haze grade, central macular thickness (CMT, μm), and macular volume (MV, mm3) at pre-switching, 2, 4, and 6 months post-switching.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in BCVA, AC and AV cell grades, and vitreous haze grades at 2, 4, and 6 months post- compared with pre-switching, and no significant differences in CMT and MV at 2 and 6 months post-switching. CMT and MV decreased from 260.55 ± 67.44 μm and 8.37 ± 1.14 mm3 at pre-switching to 244.14 ± 60.31 μm (p = 0.032) and 8.11 ± 1.20 mm3 (p = 0.027) at 4 months post-switching, respectively. There was no recurrence of uveitis, as defined by AC cell grade, vitreous haze, or BCVA. Four patients (27%) were switched back to adalimumab originator after a mean of 9 weeks, due to discomfort during the injection (three patients) and technical difficulty with the new injection device (one patient). No other adverse events occurred after switching to SB5.

CONCLUSION

Switching from adalimumab originator to SB5 for NIU does not result in clinically significant differences in treatment efficacy and safety.

Six-month outcomes of infliximab and tocilizumab therapy in non-infectious retinal vasculitis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of infliximab (IFX, 5-10 mg/kg) (Group 1) and tocilizumab (TCZ, 4-8 mg/kg) (Group 2) infusions in non-infectious retinal vasculitis (RV) using Angiographic Scoring for the Uveitis Working Group fluorescein angiography (FA) scoring system.

METHODS

Records of 14 patients (24 eyes) in Group 1 and 8 patients (11 eyes) in Group 2 were retrospectively evaluated to assess visual acuity (VA), anterior chamber cell and flare, vitreous haze, central subfield thickness (CST), and FA scoring at baseline and 6 months of follow-up. The measurements were employed to grade in each group.

RESULTS

In Group 1 and 2, respectively, there was no underlying disease in 9 (60%) and 3 (42.9%) patients. Three (42.9%) patients in Group 2 had juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as the most common identified cause. Mean improvement in VA (log MAR) and CST were 0.04 ± 0.14 and 40.3 ± 78.5 µm in Group 1; 0.04 ± 0.09 and 47.3 ± 82.3 µm in Group 2, respectively. Mean FA scores were significantly reduced from 12.4 ± 5.2 and 11.6 ± 4.4 at baseline to 6.4 ± 5.0 and 5.8 ± 3.9 at 6-month in Group 1 and 2, respectively. In Group 2, 9 eyes of 6 patients (75%) had the history of IFX use prior to TCZ initiation. There was no significant safety concern requiring treatment discontinuation during the follow-up in either group.

CONCLUSION

IFX and TCZ infusions showed statistically significant improvement of non-infectious RV as shown by ASUWOG FA Scoring System. TCZ, as well as IFX, appeared to be effective treatment options for non-infectious RV.

Risk of failing both methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil from the First-line Antimetabolites as Steroid-sparing Treatment (FAST) uveitis trial

BACKGROUND

The antimetabolites methotrexate (MTX) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) are commonly used as initial corticosteroid-sparing treatment for uveitis. There is little data examining risk factors for failing both MTX and MMF. The objective of this study is to determine risk factors for failing both MTX and MMF in patients with non-infectious uveitis.

MAIN BODY

This is a sub-analysis of the First-line Antimetabolites as Steroid-sparing Treatment (FAST) uveitis trial, which was an international, multicenter, block-randomized, observer-masked, comparative effectiveness trial comparing MTX and MMF as initial treatments for non-infectious uveitis. This study was undertaken at multiple referral centers in India, the United States, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Mexico between 2013 and 2017. A total of 137 patients who completed all 12 months of follow-up from the FAST trial, were included in this study. The primary outcome was failing both antimetabolites over the 12 months of the trial. Potential predictors included: age, sex, bilateral involvement, anatomic location of the uveitis, presence of cystoid macular edema (CME) and retinal vasculitis at baseline visit, uveitis duration, and country/study sites as risk factors for failing both MTX and MMF. The presence of retinal vasculitis posterior to the equator on fluorescein angiogram was associated with failing both MTX and MMF.

CONCLUSION

Retinal vasculitis may be a risk factor for failing multiple antimetabolites. Clinicians could consider more quickly advancing these patients to other medication classes, such as biologics.

Comparing biologic options for the management of Behcet's disease-related uveitis

INTRODUCTION

Behçet's disease (BD) associated uveitis occurs in approximately 50-70% of the patients. Ocular involvement in BD may induce a severe affection of visual function, leading to a considerable decrease in patients' quality of life. The risk for severe visual loss increases when the ocular posterior segment is involved and in patients with no adequate treatment.

AREAS COVERED

Monoclonal tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biotechnological inhibitors represent a relatively recent milestone for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis (NIU) also in BD patients. In addition to TNF inhibitors, further biologic agents have been increasingly proposed for multi-recalcitrant cases, as for interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 inhibitors. However, evidence on these new opportunities requires to be widened in the next future.

EXPERT OPINION

Joining the forces for scientific efforts is essential to quickly obtain solid acquisitions useful for the everyday clinical practice. To this end, the Auto-Inflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) Network has recently supported the development of an international registry dedicated to NIU and other inflammatory ocular involvement observed in BD patients. This will be essential to resolve current and future unmet needs burdening the everyday clinical practice.

Lower Relapses Rate With Infliximab Versus Adalimumab in Sight-Threatening Uveitis: A Multicenter Study of 330 Patients

PURPOSE

To compare the relapse rate of sight-threatening noninfectious uveitis (NIU) in patients treated with infliximab (IFX) or adalimumab (ADA).

DESIGN

Observational retrospective multicenter study.

METHODS

A total of 330 patients (median age, 36 years; interquartile range, 27-54), 45.2% men) with sight-threatening NIU (ie, retinal vasculitis and/or macular edema) treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α agents (IFX intravenously at 5 mg/kg at weeks 0, 2, 6, and every 4 to 6 weeks or ADA subcutaneously at 80 mg, then 40 mg every 2 weeks). Data were obtained retrospectively from patients' medical records. Main outcome measures were relapse rate, complete response of NIU, corticosteroid sparing effect, and safety.

RESULTS

Main etiologies of uveitis included Behçet disease (27%), idiopathic juvenile arthritis (5.8%), and sarcoidosis (5.5%). The estimated relapse rate at 6 months after introduction of biological agents was 13% (95% CI = 0.009-0.16). IFX was associated with less relapse risk than ADA (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.36- 0.77, P = .001). ADA and IFX were comparable in terms of complete response rate of NIU as well as corticosteroid-sparing effect. Behçet disease was associated with higher odds of complete response (HR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.16 -3.60, P = .01] and lower relapse rate (HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.33-0.85, P = .009) than other causes of NIU with anti-TNF-α agents.

CONCLUSIONS

In sight-threatening NIU, IFX seems to be associated with a lower relapse rate than ADA.

The evaluation of the efficacy of adalimumab in refractory non-infectious uveitis with ultra-widefield fundus fluorescein angiography

AIM

To investigate the efficacy of adalimumab in the cases with refractory non-infectious uveitis and evaluate retinal vascular leakage changes on ultra-widefield fundus fluorescein angiography.

METHODS

Twenty-three patients with refractory uveitis were included in study.

RESULTS

Forty-four eyes of 23 patients with non-infectious uveitiswere evaluated. Clinically active inflammation was present in 19 eyes (43.18%), while 25 (56.8%) were inactive. The mean drug burden was a 9.91 ± 3.78 (5-21) in baseline, 7.3 ± 4.25 at third and 8.0 ± 4.71 at sixth month (p = 0.022). The mean choroidal thickness was 256.65 ± 43.63 μm in baseline, 240.49 ± 36.73 μm at third and 224.81 ± 34.91 μm at sixth month (p ≤ 0.05). In terms of leakage extend, leakage was initially present in a mean of 2.95 ± 4.55 clock hours, 2.41 ± 3.91 at third and 1.76 ± 3.44 at sixth month (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Adalimumab was found to be effective in establishing inflammation control by reducing drug burden, controlling retinal vascular leakage and choroidal inflammation in refractory uveitis.

Clinical profile and evolution of patients with juvenile-onset Behçet's syndrome over a 25-year period: insights from the AIDA network

Behçet's syndrome (BS) represents an understudied topic in pediatrics: the main aims of our study were to characterize demographic and clinical features of a cohort of BS patients with juvenile-onset managed in three tertiary referral centers in Italy, evaluate their evolution in the long-term, and detect any potential differences with BS patients having an adult-onset. Medical records of 64 juvenile-onset and 332 adult-onset BS followed-up over a 2-year period were retrospectively analyzed and compared. Mean age ± SD of first symptom-appearance was 10.92 ± 4.34 years with a female-to-male ratio of 1.06:1. Mucocutaneous signs were the most frequent initial manifestations, followed by uveitis. Throughout the disease course, genital aphthae (76.56%) and pseudofolliculitis (40.63%) prevailed among the mucocutaneous signs, while major organ involvement was represented by gastrointestinal and ocular involvement (43.75 and 34.38%, respectively). No significant differences emerged for both mucocutaneous signs and specific major organ involvement between juvenile-onset and adult BS patients. After excluding nonspecific abdominal pain, juvenile-onset BS patients were less frequently characterized by the development of major organ involvement (p = 0.027). Logistic regression detected the juvenile-onset as a variable associated with reduced risk of long-term major organ involvement (OR 0.495 [0.263-0.932], p = 0.029). In our cohort, juvenile-onset BS resembled the clinical spectrum of adult-onset patients. Pediatric patients with a full-blown disease at onset showed a more frequent mucocutaneous involvement. In addition, patients with juvenile-onset seemed to develop less frequently major organ involvement and had an overall less severe disease course.

Role of Adalimumab Biosimilar in the Treatment of Non-Anterior Uveitis Associated with Behçet's Syndrome

INTRODUCTION

To evaluate the efficacy of SB5, an adalimumab biosimilar, in the management of Behçet's syndrome (BS)-related uveitis.

METHODS

Data from eight BS patients (16 eyes) with active non-anterior uveitis and/or systemic uncontrolled disease or performing non-medical switch to SB5 were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Complete control of uveitis was observed in all 16 eyes without relapses during follow-up. The number of relapses 12 months prior to SB5 initiation and at last follow-up was 100 and 0 per 100 patients/year, respectively (p = 0.010). At baseline, four eyes had active retinal vasculitis, whereas at 3 months and at last follow-up, retinal vasculitis had resolved in all of them (p = 0.018). Median visual acuity did not vary significantly between baseline and last follow-up visit (p = 0.109). No ocular complications emerged during treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

SB5 is effective in the treatment of BS-related non-anterior uveitis. It reduces uveitis relapses and controls retinal vasculitis while allowing preservation of visual acuity.

The Efficacy of Adalimumab as an Initial Treatment in Patients with Behçet's Retinal Vasculitis

Background: No study has evaluated the effectiveness of Adalimumab (ADA) as first-line in treatment-naïve patients with retinal vasculitis due to Behçet’s Uveitis (BU).

Objective: To compare the efficacy of ADA plus conventional therapy and conventional therapy alone as initial treatments in naïve BU patients characterized by retinal vasculitis.

Methods: Medical records of BU patients characterized by retinal vasculitis treated with conventional therapy (CT, refers to glucocorticoid and immunosuppressive agents) alone or ADA plus conventional therapy with at least 6 months of follow-up between February 2015 and June 2020 were analyzed. Only patients who were first diagnosed with BU without previous systemic treatment were reviewed. The retinal vasculitis score based on fluorescein angiography (FA), best-corrected visual acuity, glucocorticoid-sparing effect, the number of relapses and ocular complications were evaluated.

Results: A total of 45 patients (87 eyes) were included. Twenty-four patients (55.33%) in the CT group were treated with conventional therapy and 21 patients (46.67%) in the ADA group were treated with ADA plus conventional therapy. The inflammatory parameters improved in both groups. FA scores showed significantly greater improvement in ADA group than CT group (p < 0.001). The median number of relapses was significantly lower, and the duration of remission was longer in ADA group than CT group (p < 0.001). At the last visit, a significantly better BCVA improvement (p = 0.024), better inflammation control (anterior chamber inflammation p = 0.017 and vitritis p < 0.001) and lower daily glucocorticoid dosage (p = 0.005) were identified in patients received ADA therapy. In CT group, 1 patient suffered hepatitis B and tuberculosis, 1 had growth retardation, 1 patient had with osteoporosis, then followed by other mild AEs (mostly respiratory upper tract infections); while in ADA group, 1 patient experienced a mild pneumonia (n = 1) while milder AEs were represented mostly by respiratory upper tract infections followed by gastrointestinal discomfort.

Conclusion: ADA plus conventional therapy achieved superiority over conventional therapy as initial treatment in naïve BU patients with retinal vasculitis.

Treatment of Noninfectious Retinal Vasculitis Using Subcutaneous Repository Corticotropin Injection

Purpose

To show whether subcutaneous repository corticotropin injection (RCI, Acthar® Gel, a repository corticotropin injection, can be an effective potential therapeutic agent for noninfectious retinal vasculitis.

Methods

Patients with active retinal vasculitis were followed with serial ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiograms and treated with 80 units of subcutaneous repository corticotropin injection twice weekly.

Results

Primary outcome of ≥50% improvement in response level (RL) for retinal vasculitis and percent improvement in retinal vasculitis severity scoring (RVSS) by more than one quartile (≥25%) at week 12 was met in 15 and 16 of the 30 total eyes, respectively, including 1 eye with severe retinal vasculitis in each group. Complete resolution of retinal vasculitis was seen in seven eyes with a mean time of 17.1 weeks. Intraocular pressure elevation requiring therapy and cataract progression were noted in two and three eyes, respectively. One patient stopped medication due to side effects (injection site reaction).

Conclusion

Repository corticotropin injection was well-tolerated overall. Repository corticotropin injection may be an effective therapeutic agent in the treatment of noninfectious retinal vasculitis.

Clinical features, visual outcome, and poor prognostic factors in occlusive retinal vasculitis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical features, treatment, and visual outcome of occlusive retinal vasculitis (ORV), with a focal analysis on prognostic factors associated with poor visual outcome.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in patients diagnosed with ORV with at least 6 months of follow-up. Demographic data, ocular features, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein angiography, therapy regimens, and outcomes were collected from the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution database from 2006 to 2017. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze the factors independently predicting poor visual outcome.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients (69 eyes) were enrolled, 42 with noninfectious cause, 9 with infectious cause, and 1 with masquerade uveitis. Systemic inflammatory diseases, including necrotizing vasculitis, sarcoidosis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Behçet's disease comprised the causes of ORV. Forty of the 42 patients with noninfectious ORV received immunomodulatory therapy (IMT), and 35 patients (87.5%) were able to achieve steroid-free remission. Compared with the BCVA at the initial visit (0.66 [±0.11] logMAR), there was significant improvement at the most recent visit (0.37 [±0.07] logMAR, p = 0.001). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that optic nerve atrophy, macular ischemia, and poor BCVA at initial presentation were independently correlated with poor visual outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

ORV could be caused by a wide spectrum of systemic inflammatory diseases. Aggressive IMT is preferred to achieve a steroid-free durable remission for noninfectious ORV. Optic nerve atrophy, macular ischemia, and poor BCVA at the initial visit predict a poor visual outcome.

Effectiveness of SB5, an Adalimumab Biosimilar, in Patients With Noninfectious Uveitis: A Real-Life Monocentric Experience

PURPOSE

Several concerns have arisen with biosimilars in terms of immunogenicity, safety issues, loss of efficacy, and extrapolation to other indications. The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy of SB5, an adalimumab biosimilar, in noninfectious uveitis (NIU).

DESIGN

Retrospective nonrandomized study.

METHODS

Data from patients with refractory NIU treated with SB5 (Imraldi, Biogen) were analyzed at baseline, 3 months after SB5 initiation and at the last follow-up in terms of uveitis relapses, occurrence of retinal vasculitis, resolution of uveitic macular edema (UME), best-corrected visual acuity, glucocorticoids (GCs)-sparing effect and drug survival.

RESULTS

Uveitis relapses decreased from 121 relapses/100 patients/year in the 12 months before SB5 initiation to 4 relapses/100 patients/year during the first 12 months of treatment (P = 0.0004). Uveitis was inactive in 46/47 eyes at the end of the study period. The number of eyes with active retinal vasculitis decreased during the study period (P < 0.0001). At baseline, 6 eyes presented UME, whereas no eye had UME at the last follow-up. Mean best-corrected visual acuity increased from 7.7 ± 3.41 at baseline to 8.9 ± 2.46 at the last follow-up (P = 0.0045). Mean GCs daily dosage decreased from 18.33 ± 10.33 mg at baseline to 5.75 ± 2.29 mg at the last follow-up (P = 0.018). The cumulative SB5 retention rate was 91.8% at both 12- and 20-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

SB5 biosimilar is effective in NIU by drastically reducing uveitis relapses and the occurrence of retinal vasculitis. Moreover, SB5 biosimilar improved visual acuity, allowed a significant GCs-sparing effect and showed an excellent drug retention rate.

Response to the Second TNF-α Inhibitor (Adalimumab or Infliximab) after Failing the First One in Refractory Idiopathic Inflammatory Retinal Vascular Leakage

Purpose: To determine the response to the second TNF-α inhibitor (adalimumab and infliximab) after failing the first agent in idiopathic inflammatory retinal vascular leakage.Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational case series. Patients with the diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory retinal vascular leakage who had received both infliximab and adalimumab were included in the study.Results: Twelve and 15 patients received adalimumab (Group one) and infliximab (Group two) as the first treatment, respectively. The remission rates between Group one (58.3%) and Group two (66.7%) were not statistically significant. (P = .4) As the second agent, adalimumab was more effective in younger patients (27.5 ± 20.6) compared to older patients (48.75 ± 10.2). (P = .03). Moreover, patients with lower vision responded marginally better to infliximab as the second treatment (P = .06).Conclusion: Either TNF-α inhibitor, adalimumab and infliximab, can be employed in the treatment of the patients with idiopathic inflammatory retinal vascular leakage who fail one of these agents.

Comparative study of adalimumab versus conventional therapy in sight-threatening refractory Behçet's uveitis with vasculitis

BACKGROUND

Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha was regarded as an option in treatment of non-infectious uveitis. However, few studies in the far easter region have concentrated on this therapy and current studies have not emphasized the elimination of retinal vasculitis. To compare the effectiveness of adalimumab (ADA) plus conventional therapy (CT) versus CT alone in treating patients with retinal vasculitis (RV) due to refractory Behçet's uveitis (BU).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Clinical records of BU patients with previously treated but poorly controlled RV were analyzed. Patients were allocated into two groups depending on ADA use. Each group was treated for no less than 6 months between February 2015 and September 2020. The primary outcome parameter was the RV score. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), number of relapses, macular thickness and ocular complications were considered concomitantly.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients (72 eyes) were included; 21 patients were in CT group, and 21 patients were in ADA group. Inflammatory parameters improved in both groups. The improvement in the fluorescein angiography (FA) score and anterior chamber inflammation were significantly better in ADA group than in CT group (P < 0.05). The relapse time was significantly lower in ADA group than in CT group (P = 0.01). Daily glucocorticoid dose tapers were more evident in ADA group than in CT group (P < 0.05). Adverse events were detected in 7 patients (5 had upper respiratory tract infection and 2 had gastrointestinal discomfort) in ADA group; in CT group, upper respiratory infection and recurrent gum swelling were observed in 1 patient each.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that ADA plus CT outperforms CT alone in patients with RV due to refractory BU. More agile ADA use in these patients should be considered to achieve optimal treatment.

Biologic and advanced immunomodulating therapeutic options for sarcoidosis: a clinical update

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a multi-organ disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations and outcomes. A quarter of sarcoidosis patients require long-term treatment for chronic disease. In this group, corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents be insufficient to control diseaseAreas covered: Several biologic agents have been studied for treatment of chronic pulmonary and extra-pulmonary disease. A review of the available literature was performed searching PubMed and an expert opinion regarding specific therapy was developed.Expert opinion: These agents have the potential of treating patients who have progressive disease. Many of these agents have different mechanisms of action, response rates, and toxicity profiles.

Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Treatment in the Management of Pediatric Noninfectious Uveitis: Infliximab Versus Adalimumab

Purpose: Management of uveitis displays a particular challenge in childhood. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) in pediatric noninfectious uveitis that were refractory to conventional immunosuppresives. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 33 patients who were treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents (16 with IFX and 17 with ADA). Patients had diverse etiologies, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis, idiopathic uveitis, and Behçet's disease. Demographic characteristics, systemic diagnosis, findings of the ophthalmological examination, control of ocular inflammation, response to treatment, and the rate of clinical remission were studied. Results: Fourteen (87.5%) patients receiving IFX and 10 (58.8%) patients receiving ADA achieved response to treatment during the follow-up (P = 0.118). The agents were discontinued with complete clinical remission in 6 (37.5%) patients receiving IFX and in 2 (11.8%) patients receiving ADA (P = 0.118). Baseline visual acuities and parameters of inflammation improved significantly in both groups after anti-TNF therapy. Conclusion: Both IFX and ADA are safe and effective for pediatric noninfectious uveitis.

A 10-year follow-up of infliximab monotherapy for refractory uveitis in Behçet's syndrome

Infliximab (IFX) was the first biologic introduced for refractory uveitis treatment in Behçet’s syndrome (BS). However, there have been few reports on the safety and efficacy of IFX monotherapy over follow-up periods of more than 10 years. This retrospective study evaluated the 10-year safety and efficacy of IFX monotherapy compared to IFX combination therapies with colchicine or corticosteroid for refractory uveitis in BS patients. Monotherapy was performed in 30 eyes of 16 patients while combination therapies were performed in 20 eyes of 11 patients. Continuation of IFX occurred in 70.3% of enrolled patients for 10 years without any significant difference noted in the retention rate between the monotherapy and combination therapies (p = 0.86). Reduction of ocular inflammatory attacks and improvement of best corrected visual acuity occurred in the monotherapy group after 10 years, which was equivalent to that for the combination therapies. Although adverse events (AEs) or therapy discontinuation occurred during the initial 5 years in both therapies, no AEs were observed for either therapy after 6 years. Our results suggested that IFX monotherapy proved to be effective and not inferior to combination therapies over a 10-year follow-up. Although loss of response and AEs may be noticed during the initial 5-year period, a safe and effective continuation can be expected thereafter.

Biotherapies in Uveitis

Non-infectious uveitis (NIU) represents one of the leading causes of blindness in developed countries. The therapeutic strategy aims to rapidly control intra-ocular inflammation, prevent irremediable ocular damage, allow corticosteroid sparing and save the vision, and has evolved over the last few years. Anterior NIU is mostly managed with topical treatment in adults. However, for intermediate, posterior and pan-uveitis, notably when both eyes are involved, systemic treatment is usually warranted. Biotherapies are recommended in case of inefficacy or non-tolerance of conventional immunosuppressive drugs in non-anterior NIU. Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) agents are by far the most widely used, especially adalimumab (ADA) and infliximab (IFX). In case of sight-threatening uveitis in Behçet's disease or in case of risk of severe recurrences, respectively IFX and ADA may be recommended as first-line therapy. Many questions are left unanswered; how long to treat NIU, how to discontinue anti-TNF-α agents, what biologic to use in case of anti-TNF-α failure? The objective of this review is to present an updated overview of knowledge on the use of biological treatments in NIU.

Long-term Follow-up and Optimization of Infliximab in Refractory Uveitis Due to Behçet Disease: National Study of 103 White Patients

OBJECTIVE

In a large series of White patients with refractory uveitis due to Behçet disease (BD) being treated with infliximab (IFX), we assessed (1) long-term efficacy and safety of IFX, and (2) IFX optimization when ocular remission was achieved.

METHODS

Our multicenter study of IFX-treated patients with BD uveitis refractory to conventional immunosuppressant agents treated 103 patients/185 affected eyes with IFX as first biologic therapy in the following intervals: 3-5 mg/kg intravenous at 0, 2, 6, and then every 4-8 weeks. The main outcome variables were analyzed at baseline, first week, first month, sixth month, first year, and second year of IFX therapy. After remission, based on a shared decision between patient and clinician, IFX optimization was performed. Efficacy, safety, and cost of IFX therapy were evaluated.

RESULTS

In the whole series (n = 103), main outcome variables showed a rapid and maintained improvement, reaching remission in 78 patients after a mean IFX duration of 31.5 months. Serious adverse events were observed in 9 patients: infusion reactions (n = 4), tuberculosis (n = 1), Mycobacterium avium pneumonia (n = 1), severe oral ulcers (n = 1), palmoplantar psoriasis (n = 1), and colon carcinoma (n = 1). In the optimization subanalysis, the comparative study between optimized and nonoptimized groups showed (1) no differences in clinical characteristics at baseline, (2) similar maintained improvement in most ocular outcomes, (3) lower severe adverse events, and (4) lower mean IFX costs in the optimized group (€4826.52 vs €9854.13 per patient/yr).

CONCLUSION

IFX seems to be effective and relatively safe in White patients with refractory BD uveitis. IFX optimization is effective, safe, and cost-effective.

The current status of biological treatment for uveitis

INTRODUCTION

Noninfectious uveitis represents one of the leading causes of blindness in developed Countries, compromising patients' quality of life and social functioning. The main treatment goals are the control of ocular inflammation, to avert and treat sight-threatening complications, thus preserving and/or restoring visual function.

AREAS COVERED

This manuscript deals with systemic therapy with biologic drugs for noninfectious uveitis. An extensive literature search in the MEDLINE database (via PubMed) has been performed up to June 2020. The major classes of biologic molecules employed in ocular inflammatory diseases have been reviewed, focusing on TNF inhibitors, IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 inhibitors, interferons, rituximab, and abatacept efficacy and safety. An overview of most recent developments in the field has been provided as well, with reference to the experience with JAK inhibitors and with biosimilar drugs.

EXPERT OPINION

The development of the concept of targeted therapy and the subsequent introduction of biologic molecules in clinical practice have revolutionized the prognosis of uveitis. The target of a rapid and sustained steroid-free remission of ocular inflammation should be pursued for all patients early in the disease course, in order to have a better chance to improve the final visual outcome.

Retinal vasculitis: A framework and proposal for a classification system

Retinal vasculitis, a poorly understood process involving inflammation or ischemia of the retinal vessel wall, may occur in association with a systemic process, although it can also be isolated to the retina. Because of the limited ability to perform histopathological studies on retinal vessels, there is no gold standard for diagnosis. Thus, there is utility in creating a classification system for retinal vasculitis and improving diagnostic strategies for this disease. We provide a framework for understanding retinal vasculitis based on size, location, and etiology. We hope that this information can be implemented in the clinical setting to provide some diagnostic strategies for this often confusing entity.

Long-Term Outcomes of Behçet's Syndrome-Related Uveitis: A Monocentric Italian Experience

Objectives

To examine demographic and clinical characteristics and long-term visual outcome in a cohort of Italian patients affected by Behçet's uveitis (BU).

Materials and Methods

Retrospective chart review of 47 patients with BU attending our unit between January 2018 and December 2019. Ophthalmologic manifestations, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluoroangiography and optical coherence tomography findings, and ocular complications were recorded. Predictive factors of a poor visual outcome and long-term complications were also investigated.

Results

Forty-seven patients (23 males and 24 females) for a total of 84 eyes were enrolled. Uveitis was bilateral in 37 (78.7%) patients with panuveitis being the most frequent anatomical pattern (40 out of 84 eyes), whereas 27 eyes presented a posterior uveitis. Isolated anterior uveitis was detected in 16 eyes. A significant improvement of median BCVA between baseline and last follow-up values was detected (p = 0.042). A higher risk of poor visual prognosis was observed in patients with uveitis duration greater than 15 years (p = 0.019). A significant resolution of retinal vasculitis was detected between baseline and last follow-up evaluation (p < 0.0001) whereas the mean ± SD macular thickness did not decrease significantly between baseline (376.00 ± 97.45 μm) and last follow-up evaluation (338.08 ± 55.81 μm). Forty-two eyes developed 57 complications during the disease course. Cataract was the most frequent (n = 12), followed by epiretinal membranes (n = 11) and cystoid macular edema (n = 6). The following variables were identified as predictors of long-term complications: human leukocyte antigen- (HLA-) B51 (p = 0.006), panuveitis (p = 0.037), and a uveitis duration of more than 15 years (p = 0.049).

Conclusions

In Italian patients, BU typically arises in the third decade and predominantly manifests as a bilateral posterior uveitis or panuveitis. Its duration is associated with a poor visual prognosis. Uveitis duration, the presence of HLA-B51, and panuveitis are predictors of long-term structural complications, thus representing main drivers in the treatment decision-making.

Emerging drugs for the treatment of noninfectious uveitis

Introduction: Uveitis is a leading cause of visual impairment and a significant burden of blindness. Although corticosteroids and conventional immunosuppressive agents have been successfully used, these are non-specific, and their long-term use may induce significant adverse effects. Areas covered: This article discusses existing local and systemic applied treatments for ocular inflammation including corticosteroids, non-biologic, and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD). Potential drugs being studied in clinical trials are introduced for both local and systemic use. Expert opinion: Treatment options for uveitis continue to expand. Still, more efforts and research are needed to better understand the mechanisms potentially leading to clinical trials.

Update on the treatment of Behçet's syndrome

Behçet's syndrome (BS) is a complex disease that shows important heterogeneity in clinical findings and physiopathology. Its treatment can be problematic as BS manifestations in different organs may respond differently to the same drug. The cornerstone of therapy for inducing remission is corticosteroids whereas immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive agents such as colchicine, azathioprine, cyclosporine-A, interferon-alpha, and cyclophosphamide are used as steroid-sparing agents and to prevent further relapses. However, a considerable number of patients continue to have mucocutaneous lesions despite therapy, and some patients require more aggressive treatment for refractory major organ involvement. Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors, especially infliximab and adalimumab, are increasingly used for various refractory BS manifestations despite the lack of controlled studies. In this review, we aim to focus on both the traditional and new treatment modalities for BS, with more emphasis on recent data on newer agents.

Expert opinion on the use of biological therapy in non-infectious uveitis

INTRODUCTION

Conventional immunosuppressive drugs, anti-TNF alpha treatments and biotherapies are increasingly being used in non-infectious uveitis.

AREAS COVERED

The present work was led by a multidisciplinary panel of experts, including internal medicine specialists, rheumatologists and ophthalmologists, and proposes an extensive review on the use of biological agents in non-infectious uveitis.

EXPERT OPINION

In case of dependency to steroids or sight-threatening disease, conventional immunosuppressive drugs (methotrexate, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil) and/or biological therapies such as anti-TNF alpha treatments (adalimumab, infliximab) can be used to achieve and maintain disease quiescence. Interferon is an efficient immunomodulatory drug that can be proposed as second-line therapy in specific indications (eg. refractory macular edema, sight-threatening Behçet's uveitis). Other biologics, especially tocilizumab, are showing promising results. Local treatments (steroids, sirolimus etc.) can be used as adjuvant therapies in case of unilateral relapse. Therapeutic response must always be evaluated by clinical examination and appropriate ancillary investigations.

The right place of interleukin-1 inhibitors in the treatment of Behçet's syndrome: a systematic review

Behçet's syndrome (BS) is a chronic (auto)-inflammatory disorder characterized by different clusters of symptoms, including mucocutaneous and ocular involvements. Interleukin-1 inhibitors anakinra (ANA), canakinumab (CAN), and gevokizumab (GEV) represent a promising therapeutic alternative in BS. To date, evidence on the use of ANA, CAN, and GEV is mainly based on small isolated studies or case series, and the real place of anti-IL1 agents in the treatment of BS is still unclear. We performed a systematic review of current evidence on the efficacy and safety of anti-IL1 agents in BS. The PubMed search yielded a total of 398 references, from which we retrieved 24 studies for inclusion (4 clinical trials, 6 observational studies, 14 case reports, case series or letters to the editor). Four studies evaluated the overall efficacy of IL-1 inhibitors, 15 studies focused on the specific efficacy of ANA, whereas efficacy of CAN and GEV was evaluated in 8 and 3 studies, respectively. Both ANA and CAN were associated with good control of mucocutaneous and ocular manifestations. ANA resulted effective also for osteoarticular manifestations. GEV was studied only for ocular manifestations, but gave contrasting results. Discordant evidence supports the use of ANA and CAN in pediatric setting and for first-line treatment of general BS manifestations. Most frequent side effects were local or diffuse cutaneous reactions and injection site reactions, particularly for ANA treatment. Blocking the IL-1 pathway could be an effective therapeutic strategy in particular BS involvements.

Adalimumab Accounts for Long-Term Control of Noninfectious Uveitis Also in the Absence of Concomitant DMARD Treatment: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Objective

This study was aimed at assessing the long-term ocular control of adalimumab (ADA) in a large real-world population with noninfectious primary or secondary uveitis, focusing on the steroid-sparing effect and on disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) cotreatment.

Methods

In this retrospective, multicenter study, the efficacy of ADA was evaluated in terms of ocular control, changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corticosteroid-sparing effect, and drug retention rate, overall and stratified according to DMARD cotreatment.

Results

106 patients were included. 88.7% had an associated systemic disease. After 6 and 12 months, proportions of patients with effective ocular control were 83.7% and 83.3%, respectively. At last the follow-up, 94.6% of patients had satisfactory ocular control. No difference in terms of ocular control at all time points emerged among patients starting ADA for ocular vs. systemic involvements. Patients with poor baseline BCVA remained stable or improved, while those with good BCVA hardly worsened. At 6 and 12 months, the median dose of prednisone significantly reduced to 5 mg/day (0-5) and 2.5 mg/day (0-5) (p < 0.001). Over a median follow-up of 36 months, 38 subjects discontinued ADA treatment. Mild to moderate side effects were reported in 7 patients (6.6%). ADA ocular control, corticosteroid-sparing effect, and drug retention rate were not influenced by the concomitant use of DMARDs.

Conclusion

The long-term ocular control of ADA in noninfectious primary or secondary uveitis is confirmed, also for BCVA preservation. Concomitant use of DMARDs does not provide additional benefits to ADA alone in terms of ocular control, steroid spare, and drug retention rate.

Behçet's syndrome as a tool to dissect the mechanisms of thrombo-inflammation: clinical and pathogenetic aspects

Behçet's syndrome (BS) is a complex disease with different organ involvement. The vascular one is the most intriguing, considering the existence of a specific group of patients suffering from recurrent vascular events involving the venous and, more rarely, the arterial vessels. Several clinical clues suggest the inflammatory nature of thrombosis in BS, especially of the venous involvement, thus BS is considered a model of inflammation-induced thrombosis. Unique among other inflammatory conditions, venous involvement (together with the arterial one) is currently treated with immunosuppressants, rather than with anti-coagulants. Although many in-vitro studies have suggested the different roles of the multiple players involved in clot formation, in-vivo models are crucial to study this process in a physiological context. At present, no clear mechanisms describing the pathophysiology of thrombo-inflammation in BS exist. Recently, we focused our attention on BS patients as a human in-vivo model of inflammation-induced thrombosis to investigate a new mechanism of clot formation. Indeed, fibrinogen displays a critical role not only in inflammatory processes, but also in clot formation, both in the fibrin network and in platelet aggregation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-derived modifications represent the main post-translational fibrinogen alterations responsible for structural and functional changes. Recent data have revealed that neutrophils (pivotal in the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to BS damage) promote fibrinogen oxidation and thrombus formation in BS. Altogether, these new findings may help understand the pathogenetic bases of inflammation-induced thrombosis and, more importantly, may suggest potential targets for innovative therapeutic approaches.

Comparative efficacy between adalimumab and infliximab in the treatment of non-infectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis: a retrospective observational study of 107 patients

To compare the efficacy of adalimumab (ADA) and infliximab (IFX) in patients with non-infectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, and panuveitis. Demographic, clinical, instrumental, and therapeutic data from patients enrolled were collected at the start of treatment, at 12-month follow-up, and at the last follow-up assessment. One hundred seven patients (46 females, 187 eyes) were enrolled, 66 (61.7%) treated with ADA and 41 (38.3%) with IFX. Bilateral involvement was observed in 80 cases. The mean follow-up was 26.45 ± 21.71 months for ADA patients and 56.60 ± 56.04 months for IFX patients. The overall decrease of uveitis frequency during the first 12 months of treatment was 66.7% in the IFX group and 84.2% in the ADA group, compared to the previous 12 months (p = 0.09). A significantly higher corticosteroid dosage was found among patients treated with ADA at the last follow-up visit (p = 0.008). The percentage of patients co-administered with corticosteroids was significantly higher among ADA patients both at the 12-month visit (p = 0.03) and at the last visit (p = 0.0004). The frequency of uveitic macular edema (UME) was significantly higher among patients treated with ADA compared to those treated with IFX at the 12-month assessment (p = 0.015) and at the last follow-up visit (p = 0.011); central macular thickness was significantly higher in ADA group compared to the IFX group at the last follow-up assessment (p = 0.04). ADA and IFX have shown a similar efficacy in controlling uveitis relapses, but IFX showed a more pronounced corticosteroid sparing effect and a significantly higher capacity in resolving UME compared to ADA.