Subconjunctival Rituximab Administration for the Treatment of Scleritis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Immunology

Background:

• Scleritis is a serious inflammatory eye condition with potential vision loss.
• Systemic immunosuppressive therapy is common but carries significant risks.
• Alternative treatments are needed for refractory cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of subconjunctival rituximab (RTX) for severe non-infectious scleritis.
• To assess RTX as a treatment option for patients intolerant or refractory to systemic therapies.

Main Methods:

• Three patients with severe active non-infectious scleritis received subconjunctival RTX injections (2.5-7.5 mg).
• Treatment was administered under topical anesthesia.
• Follow-up ranged from 8 to 10 months.

Main Results:

• Subconjunctival RTX demonstrated minimal to no improvement in subjective symptoms.
• Clinical features and ultrasound imaging showed no significant changes.
• No serious adverse events were reported during the study period.

Conclusions:

• Local administration of RTX via subconjunctival injection appears ineffective for severe scleritis.
• Further research is necessary to explore RTX's role in scleritis management.
• Current findings suggest this localized RTX approach is not promising.