Cyclosporine therapy for severe sight-threatening uveitis in children and adolescents.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To review the safety and efficacy of cyclosporine in the treatment of children with severe bilateral sight-threatening intermediate uveitis or panuveitis.

DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS:

A retrospective chart review was performed on all children younger than 18 years of age with chronic bilateral sight-threatening uveitis who were treated with cyclosporine.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Assessment of the therapeutic efficacy and development of adverse effects of cyclosporine after 6 months, 2 years, and 4 years of therapy was performed.

RESULTS:

Between 1983 and 1992, 15 children and adolescents were treated with cyclosporine. After 6 months, visual acuity improved or stabilized in 82.1% of eyes, while median vitreous inflammation decreased from 2.0 to 0.5. After 2 and 4 years, visual acuity improved or stabilized in 64% and 75% of eyes, respectively. Median vitreous inflammation remained 0.5 after 2 and 4 years of therapy. Mean creatinine clearance and hemoglobin values decreased and serum creatinine increased after 6 months. After 2 years, only mean hemoglobin values remained decreased. After 4 years, no significant differences were noted in any of the laboratory studies. The most frequently noted side effects included transient increases in serum creatinine in 53%, gingival hyperplasia in 40%, and hirsutism in 20% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

The authors' results suggest that cyclosporine is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of children with severe bilateral sight-threatening intermediate uveitis or panuveitis.

• Authors: R C Walton, R B Nussenblatt, S M Whitcup
• Journal: Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology) Vol. 105 Issue 11 Pg. 2028-34 (Nov 1998) ISSN: 0161-6420 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9818601 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Cyclosporine
• Creatinine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Creatinine (blood)
• Cyclosporine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Panuveitis (blood, complications, drug therapy)
• Retrospective Studies
• Safety
• Treatment Outcome
• Uveitis, Intermediate (blood, complications, drug therapy)
• Vision Disorders (blood, etiology)
• Visual Acuity