The TITAN Study: Topical Infliximab for the Treatment of Advanced Corneal Melt and Ocular Surface Inflammation

Sterile corneal melt is a rare but serious condition that may occur secondary to chemical burns, inflammatory disorders, or autoimmune diseases. It is thought to be mediated by cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1. Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody targeting TNF-α, has been used systemically in ocular inflammatory conditions. This study aims to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of topical infliximab in treating sterile corneal melt in humans.

Prospective, single-center, unmasked, single-arm phase I/II clinical trial.

Patients presenting with sterile, culture-negative, corneal melt of any etiology at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal.

Patients diagnosed with sterile corneal melt received topical infliximab 10 mg/mL eye drops 4 times daily for 4 weeks, in addition to standard care, and were followed for 12 weeks. Clinical evaluation, anterior segment OCT, and Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaires were used to assess outcomes.

The primary outcome was the occurrence of adverse events; secondary outcomes included stabilization of corneal thinning and reepithelialization.

Six patients with etiologies received infliximab. The treatment was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events. One patient developed uveitis after discontinuation, that resolved with topical steroids. Corneal thinning stabilized in all patients, and 66% achieved complete re-epithelialization by 12 weeks. No surgical interventions were required.

Topical infliximab appears to be a safe and promising treatment for sterile corneal melt.

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