Study: Adalimumab, infliximab successfully treat children with chronic anterior uveitis

Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors adalimumab and infliximab are effective treatments in the therapy of children with refractory antinuclear antibody-associated chronic anterior uveitis, according to a new British Journal of Ophthalmology study.

Doycheva and colleagues evaluated 31 children with refractory antinuclear antibody (ANA)-associated chronic anterior uveitis for at least 2 years. According to the study, 23 children were treated with adalimumab, five children were treated with infliximab, and three children were treated with etanercept.

Results showed that control of uveitis, defined in the study as zero anterior chamber cells while on two or less topical corticosteroid drops per day, was achieved in 78% of children treated with adalimumab and in 40% of children treated with infliximab. No children treated with etanercept experienced sufficient inflammatory control.

"Our data show that adalimumab and infliximab have beneficial effects in the therapy of severe ANA-associated anterior uveitis in children," the authors concluded. “We recommend anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) therapy in refractory pediatric uveitis when the conventional immunosuppressive treatment failed.

“Our preferred TNFα inhibitor is adalimumab because of its comfortable application, [no need for] hospitalization, easy management, fewer side effects and superior efficacy, in comparison with the other TNFα-blocking agents,” they said.

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Source:

Br J Ophthalmol. 2014;doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303935.