[Rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis-associated peripheral ulcerative keratitis]

We report two cases of patients affected by longstanding rheumatoid arthritis who developed a severe form of peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK). Neither of them had an optimal biological and clinical control of their systemic illness despite being treated with several disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologic therapy. High-dose systemic corticosteroids were given to treat the PUK without any success. Rituximab resulted in a favourable response with resolution of the corneal lesions and optimal control of their systemic illness.

Rituximab may be an additional tool to arrest progressive rheumatoid arthritis-associated PUK that is refractory to other drugs.