Rituximab therapy for refractory idiopathic scleritis.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To report 2 cases of refractory idiopathic scleritis treated with rituximab.

DESIGN:

Interventional case series.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Case 1: A 54-year-old woman, presented with anterior idiopathic scleritis in her right eye. Treatment with systemic steroids was not effective. Intravenous cyclophosphamide was discontinued after an adverse event. Case 2: A 43-year-old woman presented with idiopathic posterior scleritis in her left eye. Initial treatment with steroids was ineffective. In both cases, long-lasting remission without further relapses was achieved after 4 weekly doses (375 mg/m(2)) of rituximab.

CONCLUSION:

Rituximab was found to be an effective treatment for refractory idiopathic anterior and posterior scleritis.

• Authors: Katherine Bogdanic-Werner, Guillermo Fernandez-Sanz, Nicolás Alejandre Alba, Patricia Ferrer Soldevila, Fredeswinda I Romero-Bueno, Olga Sanchez-Pernaute
• Journal: Ocular immunology and inflammation (Ocul Immunol Inflamm) Vol. 21 Issue 4 Pg. 329-32 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1744-5078 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23662782 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Letter)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
• Antigens, CD20
• Immunologic Factors
• Rituximab

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived (therapeutic use)
• Antigens, CD20
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Rituximab
• Scleritis (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Tomography, Optical Coherence