Autoimmune Disease

Satralizumab may be an effective option to reduce the frequency of relapse in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, an autoimmune disease leading to inflammatory demyelinating lesions of the spinal cord and optic nerves. Analyses of the phase 3 SAkuraSky and SAkuraStar studies seem promising, according to one presenter at the virtual Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disabling autoimmune disorder that can cause diffuse fibrosis and vascular abnormalities in the skin, joints, and internal organs. Affecting approximately 2 million people worldwide, SSc is challenging to diagnose due to its nonspecific symptomatology and rare nature.

The prevalence of antinuclear antibodies, markers of the body’s immune responses against its own cells, has increased significantly in the United States over the past several decades, particularly among adolescents and adults aged 50 years and older, according to data published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Data from the NIH indicate that antiphospholipid syndrome is linked to one-third of new strokes occurring in individuals younger than 50 years, and may be responsible for up to 1% of all thromboses. Despite recent estimates that this condition affects as many as 1 in 2,000 individuals in the United States, its exact prevalence remains unknown.

Serum folate levels between 4.3 ng/mL and 8.2 ng/mL and greater were associated with a lower cardiovascular mortality risk among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to data published in JAMA Network Open.

Severe infections may increase the risk for developing substance-induced psychosis, according to a study conducted in Denmark and published in American Journal of Psychiatry.

As a retina specialist, my busy private practice sees a wide spectrum of the patient population. We have a significant number of patients on therapies for systemic conditions. These conditions can have multiple side effects on the eye; therefore, we are required to continually monitor these patients for toxicities.

Systemic diseases are frequently the underlying cause of many ocular conditions. Also, ocular findings often provide clues that there may be an undiagnosed systemic disease. The first step in identifying a systemic etiology is a thorough history. Obviously, the questions asked are targeted based on the eye condition. For some conditions, I will initiate the workup myself. Then, depending upon the findings, I may need to refer, whether to the primary care physician or a specialist. This may include conditions such as ocular surface diseases (dry eye disease, episcleritis, scleritis, lid margin disease) and uveitis.

Findings from a study conducted among more than 144,000 people in Sweden indicated that post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and other stress-related disorders are associated with a subsequent risk for life-threatening infections, including meningitis, endocarditis and sepsis.

Eculizumab, which is only approved by the FDA for the treatment of three rare conditions, may be used frequently for off-label indications that lack strong scientific evidence, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.