Long-Term Drug-Free Remission and Visual Outcomes in Sympathetic Ophthalmia.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To assess corticosteroid- and immunosuppressive therapy (IST)-free long-term remission in the treatment of patients with sympathetic ophthalmia (SO), a vision-robbing disease that can span a lifetime.

METHODS:

The medical records of 19 patients with SO aged 16.1 to 94.95 years (median age 58.56 years) with median follow-up of 7.10 years (mean, 6.41; range, 2.5 to 8.63 years) were retrospectively examined.

RESULTS:

All patients achieved control of inflammation, 13 of them for 2 years or more. Three (15.78%) of the 19 patients maintained remission without IST and corticosteroids for more than 5 years with vision of 20/25 or better in the sympathizing eye. Thirteen patients (68.42%) were inactive on IST or corticosteroids or in combination therapy. Eleven patients (57.9%) maintained visual acuity of 20/40 or better at the end of follow-up.

CONCLUSION:

Even with a devastating and possibly lifelong disease like sympathetic ophthalmia, long-term remission off all IST and corticosteroids, and perhaps even cure, is possible.

• Authors: Abhishek R Payal, C Stephen Foster
• Journal: Ocular immunology and inflammation (Ocul Immunol Inflamm) Vol. 25 Issue 2 Pg. 190-195 (Apr 2017) ISSN: 1744-5078 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26808121 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• Immunosuppressive Agents

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ophthalmia, Sympathetic (physiopathology)
• Remission, Spontaneous
• Retrospective Studies
• Visual Acuity (physiology)
• Young Adult