Immunomodulation and TNF-α inhibition for tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome: a case series

Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome combines acute inflammatory nephritis (AIN) and uveitis. Uveitis in TINU often requires systemic immunomodulatory therapy (IMT), including steroid-sparing agents. Although common for other noninfectious uveitides, the use of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors (TNFi) in TINU has seldom been described.

This retrospective case series included patients <18 years of age with TINU followed at our tertiary care pediatric hospital. Disease characteristics at time of diagnosis and subsequent ophthalmological and rheumatologic evaluations were extracted from the record. AIN was defined as the presence of abnormal renal function and urinalysis or renal biopsy findings consistent with TINU. Uveitis grading, site of inflammation, inactivity, and flare were defined according to Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature.

A total of 10 patients (median age, 12.3 years; 6 females) were included. AIN preceded uveitis onset in 6 patients. Uveitis was bilateral at onset in 7 patients. Uveitis inactivity was achieved with systemic corticosteroids (CS) in 2 and with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in 3 patients. Because of persistent ocular inflammation, despite CS and IMT, 4 patients were treated with TNFi. All rapidly achieved uveitis quiescence and maintained prolonged inactivity under combined treatment with TNFi and MMF.

Most patients in our study cohort required a steroid-sparing immunomodulator to achieve and maintain uveitis control. In the 50% of the cohort in whom conventional IMTs were inadequate, TNFi were able to maintain quiescence. TNF inhibition might be a useful treatment in IMT-refractory uveitis in TINU patients.