Hasan N, Chawla R, Shaikh N, Kandasamy S, Azad SV, Sundar MD. A comprehensive review of intravitreal immunosuppressants and biologicals used in ophthalmology.
Ther Adv Ophthalmol 2022;
14:25158414221097418. [PMID:
35602659 PMCID:
PMC9121505 DOI:
10.1177/25158414221097418]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic immunosuppressants and biologicals have been a valuable tool in the
treatment of inflammatory diseases and malignancies. The safety profile of these
drugs has been debatable, especially in localized systems, such as the eye. This
has led to the search for fairly local approaches, such as intravitreal,
subconjunctival, and topical route of administration. Immunosuppressants have
been used as a second-line drug in patients intolerable to corticosteroids or
those who develop multiple recurrences on weaning corticosteroids. Similarly,
biologicals have also been used as the next line of therapy, when adequate
control of inflammation could not be attained or immunosuppressants were
contraindicated to patients. Intravitreal immunosuppressants, such as
methotrexate and sirolimus, have been extensively studied in noninfectious
posterior uveitis, whereas limited studies have established the efficacy of
intravitreal biologicals, such as infliximab and adalimumab. Most of these drugs
have shown good safety profile and tolerability in animal studies alone and have
not been studied further in human subjects. However, most of the studies in
literature are single-case reports or case series which limits the level of
evidence. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the mechanism of action,
pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, indications, efficacy, and side effects of
different intravitreal immunosuppressants and biologicals that have been studied
in literature.
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