Tappeiner C, Heinz C, Specker C, Heiligenhaus A
Department of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster, Germany.
Ophthalmic Res. 2007;39(3):184-6. doi: 10.1159/000103239. Epub 2007 May 25.
To report on anti-CD20 antibody therapy in a patient with uveitis refractive to immunosuppression therapy.
Case report with ophthalmoscopic, optical coherence tomography and fluorescein-angiographic findings.
A 49-year-old woman was suffering from bilateral, noninfectious chronic anterior uveitis refractive to corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Bilateral visual acuity was 20/100 due to cataract and cystoid macular edema (CME). After treatment with rituximab, vision and CME improved, and uveitis was stable until the final visit (follow-up at 12 months).
The case report suggests that rituximab may be helpful for selected patients with chronic anterior uveitis refractive to corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medication.