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Updated: Jul 30, 2025
08:38
Quantification of the Immunosuppressant Tacrolimus on Dried Blood Spots Using LC-MS/MS
Published on: November 8, 2015
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TACROLIMUS FOR IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH NONINFECTIOUS INTERMEDIATE, POSTERIOR, OR PANUVEITIDES
Douglas A Jabs1,2, Jennifer E Thorne1,2, Carl S Wilkins2,3
1Department of Epidemiology, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|May 15, 2023
Summary
Tacrolimus effectively spares corticosteroids in noninfectious uveitis patients when used as a second immunosuppressive agent. Side effects observed were reversible upon discontinuation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunosuppression Therapy
Background:
- Noninfectious intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis often requires dual immunosuppressive therapy.
- Corticosteroid-sparing is a key goal in managing chronic uveitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate tacrolimus as a second immunosuppressive agent for noninfectious uveitis.
- To assess the efficacy of tacrolimus in achieving corticosteroid sparing.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 32 patients with noninfectious uveitis.
- Tacrolimus was added as a second immunosuppressive agent when single-agent therapy failed.
- Successful corticosteroid sparing defined as inactive uveitis with prednisone ≤7.5 mg/day.
Main Results:
- 75% of patients achieved successful corticosteroid sparing by 6 months.
- Median time to inactive uveitis was 1.5 months; median time to corticosteroid sparing was 3.9 months.
- Tacrolimus was discontinued in 5 patients due to reversible side effects (tremor, hyperglycemia).
Conclusions:
- Tacrolimus demonstrates efficacy as a second-line immunosuppressant in noninfectious uveitis.
- Reversible side effects suggest a favorable safety profile when managed appropriately.
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