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Updated: May 25, 2026
10:33
Primed Mycobacterial Uveitis (PMU) as a Model for Post-Infectious Uveitis
Published on: December 17, 2021
Infliximab and adalimumab for uveitis
Joseph N Martel1, Elizabeth Esterberg, Agnieszka Nagpal
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-0412, USA.
Ocular Immunology and Inflammation
|February 14, 2012
Summary
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) inhibitors like infliximab and adalimumab effectively control chronic uveitis. These agents offer corticosteroid-sparing benefits, though achieving sustained inflammation control may require several months and adverse reactions can occur.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Chronic noninfectious uveitis poses significant management challenges.
- Corticosteroids are a mainstay but associated with considerable side effects.
- Biologic therapies targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) are increasingly used.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the corticosteroid-sparing efficacy of TNFα inhibitors in chronic uveitis.
- To assess the sustained control of ocular inflammation with infliximab and adalimumab.
- To analyze the time course and safety of these biologic agents.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective longitudinal case series.
- Inclusion of patients with chronic noninfectious uveitis treated with infliximab (n=31) or adalimumab (n=12).
- Primary outcome: corticosteroid-sparing success; secondary outcomes: sustained inflammation control, nonbiologic therapy tapering, and discontinuation.
Main Results:
- Sustained inflammation control with corticosteroid-sparing success was achieved by 60.9% (infliximab) and 57.1% (adalimumab) at 12 months.
- Median time to this outcome was 98 days for infliximab and 169 days for adalimumab.
- Six patients on infliximab experienced adverse reactions.
Conclusions:
- Infliximab and adalimumab demonstrate success as corticosteroid-sparing agents for chronic uveitis.
- Achieving sustained inflammation control may require several months of treatment.
- Adverse reactions are a consideration that may limit the use of these therapies.
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