Purpose:To assess changes in aqueous humor levels of different interleukins (IL), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with uveitis treated with adalimumab.Methods:In this study, 24 aqueous humor samples including 12 pre- and post-treatment samples from 6 patients with uveitis treated with subcutaneous adalimumab and 12 samples from patients with cataracts (serving as controls) were evaluated. The levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and VEGF were measured using a Luminex® 200™ flow cytometer (Merckmillipore, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Alemania) and a highly sensitive ELISA system.Results:The levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 in the aqueous humor before and after treatment with adalimumab did not show significant differences. Aqueous VEGF levels significantly reduced after treatment with adalimumab (P = 0.028). Aqueous TNF-α levels did not significantly change after treatment with adalimumab, however the post-treatment level was significantly higher in patients as compared to control subjects (P = 0.032). IL-2 showed significantly higher levels in uveitis patients before treatment as compared to controls (P = 0.024), while its post-treatment levels were almost normalized.Conclusion:Decrease in the aqueous humor levels of VEGF and IL-2 after treatment with systemic adalimumab indicates that anti-TNF-α therapy induces modifications of some inflammatory mediators involved in the pathogenesis of uveitis. Aqueous humor samples may be useful to assess the effect of adalimumab on intraocular inflammation through measurement of cytokines.
Introduction There is only a unique report with a small sample size studying hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinal toxicity with swept-source (SS) optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The aim of this study was to quantify OCTA quantitative parameters in patients who underwent HCQ therapy. Methods We conducted a retrospective study. The study included 43 eyes of 22 patients taking HCQ for more than 5 years (high-risk group), 57 eyes of 29 patients taking HCQ for 5 years or less (low-risk group) and 25 eyes of 50 age-matched healthy controls. OCTA quantitative parameters (vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in superficial capillary plexus (SCP), middle capillary plexus (MCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), total capillary plexus (TCP), and choriocapillaris (CC)) were recorded. Results In the low-risk group, VD in the SCP and MCP was increased compared to control group ( p value <.05). In the high-risk group, VD in the SCP, MCP and TCP was increased ( p value <.05). The subgroup analysis revealed an increased VD at SCP in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) high-risk patients, an increased VD at TCP and CC in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) high-risk subjects, and a decreased VD at CC level in the high-risk group patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and connective tissue disease (CTD) ( p value <.05). Furthermore, we demonstrated a significant enlargement of FAZ area at MCP level in the high-risk group patients with SS and CTD ( p value <.05). Conclusion We demonstrated an increase of VD in patients who underwent HCQ treatment, so we suggest that HCQ retinal toxicity is not vascular mediated.
Daclizumab is effective and safe for long-term use in the treatment of uveitis which cannot be kept under control by other treatments. In time, it allows the dose of corticosteroids to be decreased or even discontinued.
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