Evolving Consensus Experience of the IUSG-IOIS-FOIS with Uveitis in the Time of COVID-19 Infection

A COVID-19 Risk Reduction Strategy for the Treatment of Acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease Utilizing the Antiviral Potential of Cyclosporine

PURPOSE

To report on the successful treatment of patients with acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease utilizing the antiviral potential of cyclosporine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series.

METHODS

Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed of 4 patients presenting with new-onset acute VKH disease who elected to receive initial treatment consisting of bilateral sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide combined with immediately starting oral cyclosporine without the use of systemic corticosteroids.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 17.0 months. Choroidal thickness decreased to normal with recovery of bilateral best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 1.2 in 3 patients. One elderly patient had decreased BCVA (OD 0.5, OS 0.8) due to cataract progression and mild epiretinal membrane. No recurrences of intraocular were observed in any patients. Mild renal dysfunction developed in 2 elderly patients, but importantly no patients developed COVID-19 disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral cyclosporine as the initial systemic treatment of acute VKH disease, in combination with sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide, lead to favorable clinical outcomes. Due to the known antiviral properties of cyclosporine, we suggest that this may represent a good treatment strategy for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implications of COVID-19 infection on patients with uveitis under biologic treatment

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To investigate the incidence, severity of COVID-19 infection and the outcomes in patients with uveitis treated with biologic agents during COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

In this prospective study, we included all patients with uveitis treated with biologic agents and tested for COVID-19 infection between May 2020 and October 2020.

RESULTS

A total of 59 patients were identified. Behçet's disease was the most common diagnosis (64.4%). Infliximab was the most frequent biologic agent used (61%). Nine (15.3%) patients were tested positive for COVID-19. None of the patients with positive COVID-19 test developed any COVID-19-related symptoms during follow-up. Of the nine patients with positive COVID-19 test, only two patients had uveitis flare-up after the biologic suspension.

CONCLUSION

Uveitis patients under biologic therapy can be silent carriers for COVID-19.

The importance of neopterin in COVID-19: The prognostic value and relation with the disease severity

Coronavirus Disease 2019 [COVID-19], caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2], has rapidly evolved into a global health emergency. Neopterin [NPT], produced by macrophages when stimulated with interferon [IFN-]gamma, is an essential cytokine in the antiviral immune response. NPT has been used as a marker for the early assessment of disease severity in different diseases. The leading cause of NPT production is the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-. Macrophage activation has also been revealed to be linked with disease severity in SARS-CoV-2 patients. We demonstrate the importance of NPT in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and suggest that targeting NPT in SARS-CoV-2 infection may be critical in the early prediction of disease progression and provision of timely management of infected individuals.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on uveitis patient care

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed practice of medicine and patient care worldwide. The impact of the pandemic on patients with uveitis is unknown. We developed the COVID-19 Practice Patterns Study Group to evaluate the effect of the pandemic on uveitis patient care.

Methods

This is a multicentre, cross-sectional survey of uveitis specialists practising worldwide. A web-based survey was distributed through the mailing lists of international uveitis societies to assess modifications in patient care, and use of immunomodulatory therapies (IMTs),aswell as considerations regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

Results

A diverse group consisting of 187 uveitis specialists from six continents participated in this survey. Most of these experts noted a disruption in clinical management of patients, including clinic closures or decrease in volume, patients missing in-person visits due to the fear of infection and difficulties obtaining laboratory testing. Most participants initiated (66.8%) and continued (93.3%) IMTs based on clinical presentation and did not modify their use of immunosuppressives. In cases of reported exposure to COVID-19 infection, most participants (65.3%) recommended no change in IMTs. However, 73.0% of the respondents did recommend holding all or select IMTs in case of COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 vaccine was recommended universally by almost all the specialists and 52% stated that they would counsel patients regarding the decreased immunogenicity and effectiveness of the vaccine in immunocompromised patients.

Conclusions

Uveitis patient care has changed significantly since the beginning of the pandemic. The recommendations will continue to evolve as new data on IMTs and vaccination become available.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of allergic eye diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To analyze if recommendations given before and during the COVID-19 pandemic are still a valid option for patients suffering of ocular allergy (OA).

RECENT FINDINGS

During the last year many doctors and patients requested suggestions for the treatment of OA patients in COVID-19 time. Most of them were given by phone calls and emails following the recommendations given by Scientific Societies.

SUMMARY

Considering the current multiple problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic, OA has not been considered a priority, even though patients need treatments. Topical antiallergic drugs are still the first option to treat all kind of OA, with the addition of topical corticosteroids in the severe forms of vernal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis (VKC and AKC) even in patients at risk of COVID-19. Topical immunomodulation is still recommended in severe forms of VKC and AKC unless the patient is infected. The number of patients treated with these drugs in our Center was similar than previous years. The risk to have a VKC patient affected by COVID-19 is similar to the general pediatric population but with a lower OR. In 2021, still in COVID-time, the management of OA should follow the previous recommendations with an update due to the risk of infection.

COVID-19 and the Use of Immunomodulatory Agents in Ophthalmology

Immunomodulatory agents are often used in the systemic treatment of non-infectious uveitis. These drugs consist of corticosteroids, conventional immunosuppressives, and biological agents. As it is known that they suppress the immune system, the most important concern associated with immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) is the increased risk of infection. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020. Although severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection may develop in all people, patients who receive IMT may be at higher risk in terms of both the transmission of the infection and more severe disease course. Therefore, guidelines on the management of patients receiving IMT due to uveitis during the pandemic are needed. In this review, we examined the immunomodulatory drugs used in the treatment of uveitis in terms of infectious complications and the data of patients who received IMT during the COVID-19 pandemic and discussed recommendations for the use of these drugs. According to the latest information, patients who receive IMT may continue their treatment as long as there are no disruptions in regular complete blood count (especially white blood cell count >4,000/μL) and liver and kidney function tests. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 should be managed with a multidisciplinary approach.

Impact of novel coronavirus infection in patients with uveitis associated with an autoimmune disease: Result of the COVID-19-GEAS patient survey

Introduction

The objective of these study is to know the characteristics of COVID-19 in patients with uveitis associated with Systemic Autoimmune Disease (SAD) through telematic survey.

Material and methods

Internal Medicine Society and Group of Systemic Autoimmune disease conducted a telematic survey of patients with SAD to learn about the characteristics of COVID-19 in this population.

Results

A total of 2,789 patients answered the survey, of which 28 had a diagnosis of uveitis associated with SAE. The majority (82%) were female and caucasian (82%), with a mean age of 48 years. The most frequent SAEs were Behçet’s disease followed by sarcoidosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. 46% of the patients were receiving corticosteroid treatment at a mean prednisone dose of 11 mg/day. Regarding infection, 14 (50%) patients reported symptoms compatible with SARS-CoV-2 infection. RT-PCR was performed on the nasopharyngeal smear in two patients and in one of them (4%) it was positive.

Conclusions

Both asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients with ASD-associated UNI had received similar immunosuppressive treatment.

How to Manage COVID-19 Vaccination in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: An Expert Opinion by IMIDs Study Group

Since March 2020, the outbreak of Sars-CoV-2 pandemic has changed medical practice and daily routine around the world. Huge efforts from pharmacological industries have led to the development of COVID-19 vaccines. In particular two mRNA vaccines, namely the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and the mRNA-1273 (Moderna), and a viral-vectored vaccine, i.e. ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca), have recently been approved in Europe. Clinical trials on these vaccines have been published on the general population showing a high efficacy with minor adverse events. However, specific data about the efficacy and safety of these vaccines in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are still lacking. Moreover, the limited availability of these vaccines requires prioritizing some vulnerable categories of patients compared to others. In this position paper, we propose the point of view about the management of COVID-19 vaccination from Italian experts on IMIDs and the identification of high-risk groups according to the different diseases and their chronic therapy.

Uveitis Specialists Harnessing Disruptive Technology during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Spurred by the coronavirus disease pandemic and shortage of eye care providers, telemedicine is transforming the way ophthalmologists care for their patients. Video conferencing, ophthalmic imaging, hybrid visits, intraocular inflammation quantification, and portable technology are evolving areas that may allow more uveitis patients to be evaluated via telemedicine. Despite these promising disruptive technologies, there remain significant technological limitations, legal barriers, variable insurance coverage for virtual visits, and lack of clinical trials for uveitis specialists to embrace telemedicine.

Impact of novel coronavirus infection in patients with uveitis associated with an autoimmune disease: result of the COVID-19-GEAS patient survey

Introducción

El objetivo de este estudio es conocer las características de la COVID-19 en pacientes con uveítis asociada a enfermedades autoinmunes sistémicas (EAS) mediante una encuesta telemática.

Material y métodos

La Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna por medio del Grupo de Trabajo de Enfermedades Autoinmunes realizó una encuesta telemática a pacientes con EAS para conocer las características de la COVID-19 en esta población.

Resultados

Un total de 2.789 pacientes contestaron la encuesta, de los que 28 tenían un diagnóstico de uveítis asociada a una EAS. La mayoría (82%) eran mujeres y caucásicas (82%), con una media de 48 años. Las EAS más frecuentes fueron la enfermedad de Behçet seguida de la sarcoidosis y del lupus eritematoso sistémico. El 46% de los pacientes estaban recibiendo tratamiento con corticoides a una dosis media de prednisona de 11 mg/día. Respecto a la infección, 14 (50%) pacientes referían síntomas compatibles con infección por SARS-CoV-2. Se realizó RT-PCR en el frotis nasofaríngeo en dos pacientes y en uno de ellos (4%) fue positivo.

Conclusiones

Los pacientes con UNI asociada a EAS tanto los asintomáticos como los sintomáticos de COVID-19 habían recibido de forma similar tratamiento inmunosupresor.

Evolving consensus on managing vitreo-retina and uvea practice in post-COVID-19 pandemic era

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges to the health care community. Many of the super-speciality practices are planning to re-open after the lockdown is lifted. However there is lot of apprehension in everyone's mind about conforming practices that would safeguard the patients, ophthalmologists, healthcare workers as well as taking adequate care of the equipment to minimize the damage. The aim of this article is to develop preferred practice patterns, by developing a consensus amongst the lead experts, that would help the institutes as well as individual vitreo-retina and uveitis experts to restart their practices with confidence. As the situation remains volatile, we would like to mention that these suggestions are evolving and likely to change as our understanding and experience gets better. Further, the suggestions are for routine patients as COVID-19 positive patients may be managed in designated hospitals as per local protocols. Also these suggestions have to be implemented keeping in compliance with local rules and regulations.