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This French National Diagnostic and Care Protocol (NDPC) includes both pediatric and adult patients with non-infectious chronic uveitis (NICU) or non-infectious recurrent uveitis (NIRU). NICU is defined as uveitis that persists for at least 3 months or with frequent relapses occurring less than 3 months after cessation of treatment. NIRU is repeated episodes of uveitis separated by periods of inactivity of at least 3 months in the absence of treatment. Some of these NICU and NIRU are isolated. Others are associated with diseases that may affect various organs, such as uveitis associated with certain types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, adult spondyloarthropathies or systemic diseases in children and adults such as Behçet's disease, granulomatoses or multiple sclerosis. The differential diagnoses of pseudo-uveitis, sometimes related to neoplasia, and uveitis of infectious origin are discussed, as well as the different forms of uveitis according to their main anatomical location (anterior, intermediate, posterior or panuveitis). We also describe the symptoms, known physiopathological mechanisms, useful complementary ophthalmological and extra-ophthalmological examinations, therapeutic management, monitoring and useful information on the risks associated with the disease or treatment. Finally, this protocol presents more general information on the care pathway, the professionals involved, patient associations, adaptations in the school or professional environment and other measures that may be implemented to manage the repercussions of these chronic diseases. Because local or systemic corticosteroids are usually necessary, these treatments and the risks associated with their prolonged use are the subject of particular attention and specific recommendations. The same information is provided for systemic immunomodulatory treatments, immunosuppressive drugs, sometimes including anti-TNFα antibodies or other biotherapies. Certain particularly important recommendations for patient management are highlighted in summary tables., (Copyright © 2023 Société Nationale Française de Médecine Interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Immunosuppressants are prescribed for pediatric uveitis in cases of severe involvement affecting the prognosis for vision or life, in cases of recurrent or chronic uveitis to achieve corticosteroid sparing, or in cases of corticosteroid resistance. Immunosuppressants used in children include antimetabolites (methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine), cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and biologics, including infliximab, adalimumab, anakinra, canakinumab, and tocilizumab. The mechanisms of action and indications of the various immunosuppressants are described in this review., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Conventional immunosuppressive drugs, anti-TNF alpha treatments and biotherapies are increasingly being used in non-infectious uveitis., Areas Covered: The present work was led by a multidisciplinary panel of experts, including internal medicine specialists, rheumatologists and ophthalmologists, and proposes an extensive review on the use of biological agents in non-infectious uveitis., Expert Opinion: In case of dependency to steroids or sight-threatening disease, conventional immunosuppressive drugs (methotrexate, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil) and/or biological therapies such as anti-TNF alpha treatments (adalimumab, infliximab) can be used to achieve and maintain disease quiescence. Interferon is an efficient immunomodulatory drug that can be proposed as second-line therapy in specific indications (eg. refractory macular edema, sight-threatening Behçet's uveitis). Other biologics, especially tocilizumab, are showing promising results. Local treatments (steroids, sirolimus etc.) can be used as adjuvant therapies in case of unilateral relapse. Therapeutic response must always be evaluated by clinical examination and appropriate ancillary investigations.

Introduction: Diagnostic work-up of uveitis involves many uncertainties. Search for an etiology should take into account the epidemiology of uveitis and focus on the most severe diseases or those, which can be treated. This work was undertaken to establish recommendations for the diagnosis work-up of uveitis., Methods: Recommendations were developed by a multidisciplinary panel of 15 experts, including internists, ophthalmologists and a rheumatologist and are based on a review of the literature with regard to effectiveness of investigations and the results of the ULISSE study, which is the first prospective study assessing the efficiency of a standardized strategy for the etiological diagnosis of uveitis. Children, immunocompromised patients, severe retinal vasculitis and specific ophthalmological entities are excluded from these recommendations., Results: Investigations should be first guided by the history and physical examination. Serological screening for syphilis is the only test appropriate in all forms of uveitis. If no diagnosis is made after this stage, we propose investigations guided by the anatomic characteristics of uveitis. It includes HLA B27 testing (in unilateral acute anterior non-granulomatous uveitis), serum angiotensin converting enzyme, interferon-gamma release assay and chest CT (chronic uveitis), cerebral MRI and anterior chamber tap with IL10 analysis (intermediate or posterior uveitis in patients over 40 years). Investigations ordered in the absence of orientation are almost always unhelpful., Conclusions: We propose a strategy for the etiologic diagnosis of uveitis. The recommendations should be updated regularly. The efficiency of more invasive investigations has yet to be evaluated., (Copyright © 2017 Société Nationale Française de Médecine Interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Conventional immunosuppressive drugs, anti-TNF alpha and other biotherapies used in clinical practice are capable of controlling non-infectious anterior uveitis, posterior uveitis and panuveitis. The present work has been led by a multidisciplinary panel of experts, internists, rheumatologists and ophthalmologists and is based on a review of the literature. In case of corticodependency or sight-threatening disease, conventional immunosuppressive drugs (methotrexate, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil) and/or anti-TNF alpha (adalimumab, infliximab) are used to achieve and maintain remission. Interferon is an efficient immunomodulatory treatment, as a second-line therapy, for some therapeutic indications (refractory macular edema, Behçet's vascularitis). Other biologics, especially tocilizumab, are showing promising results. Local treatments (corticosteroids, sirolimus etc.) are adjuvant therapies in case of unilateral inflammatory relapse. Therapeutic response must be evaluated precisely by clinical examination and repeated complementary investigations (laser flare photometry, multimodal imaging, perimetry, electroretinography measures)., (Copyright © 2018 Société Nationale Française de Médecine Interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Diagnosis of uveitis is difficult. Etiologic investigations should take into account the epidemiology of uveitis and should focus on the most severe forms of the disease and those which can be treated. This study was undertaken to establish recommendations for the diagnosis of uveitis., Methods: Recommendations were developed by a multidisciplinary panel of 14 experts, including internists, ophthalmologists, and rheumatologists, and are based on a review of the literature and the results of the ULISSE study, which was the first prospective study to assess the efficacy of a standardized strategy for the etiologic diagnosis of uveitis. The following groups of patients are not included in these recommendations: children, immunocompromised patients, patients with severe retinal vasculitis, and those with specific eye diseases diagnosed by ophthalmologic examination only., Results: Diagnosis should be guided by the medical history of the patient and physical examination. Serologic screening for syphilis is appropriate in all forms of uveitis. If uveitis is not diagnosed at this stage, investigations oriented by the anatomic characteristics of uveitis are proposed. These consist of assays for HLA-B27 (in unilateral acute anterior non-granulomatous uveitis), serum angiotensin-converting enzyme, interferon-gamma release, chest computed tomography (chronic uveitis), cerebral magnetic resonance imaging and anterior chamber tap with interleukin-10 analysis (intermediate or posterior uveitis in patients >40years-old). Other investigations prescribed in the absence of orientation are usually unhelpful., Conclusions: A strategy is proposed for the etiologic diagnosis of uveitis. The benefit of more invasive investigations remains to be determined., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Résumé Les immunosuppresseurs conventionnels, les anticorps anti-TNF alpha et d’autres biothérapies ont étoffé ces dernières années l’arsenal thérapeutique permettant de mieux contrôler les uvéites antérieures, les uvéites postérieures et les panuvéites non infectieuses. Ce travail est le fruit d’une concertation d’experts ophtalmologistes, rhumatologues et internistes se fondant sur les données actuelles de la littérature. En cas de menace du pronostic fonctionnel ou de corticodépendance, le recours aux immunosuppresseurs conventionnels (méthotrexate, azathioprine et mycophénolate mofétil) et/ou aux anticorps anti-TNF alpha (adalimumab, infliximab) est préconisé. L’interféron est un immunomodulateur efficace en deuxième intention pour des indications précises (œdèmes maculaires réfractaires, vascularites liées à la maladie de Behçet). D’autres agents biologiques, en particulier le tocilizumab, ont montré des résultats prometteurs dans les formes réfractaires. Les traitements locaux (corticoïdes, sirolimus, etc.) peuvent être utilisés en traitements adjuvants en cas de poussée inflammatoire unilatérale. La réponse thérapeutique doit être évaluée précisément par l’examen clinique et les examens complémentaires itératifs (photométrie automatisée du Tyndall, imagerie multimodale, périmétrie, électrorétinographie). Conventional immunosuppressive drugs, anti-TNF alpha and other biotherapies used in clinical practice are capable of controlling non-infectious anterior uveitis, posterior uveitis and panuveitis. The present work has been led by a multidisciplinary panel of experts, internists, rheumatologists and ophthalmologists and is based on a review of the literature. In case of corticodependency or sight-threatening disease, conventional immunosuppressive drugs (methotrexate, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil) and/or anti-TNF alpha (adalimumab, infliximab) are used to achieve and maintain remission. Interferon is an efficient immunomodulatory treatment, as a second-line therapy, for some therapeutic indications (refractory macular edema, Behçet's vascularitis). Other biologics, especially tocilizumab, are showing promising results. Local treatments (corticosteroids, sirolimus etc.) are adjuvant therapies in case of unilateral inflammatory relapse. Therapeutic response must be evaluated precisely by clinical examination and repeated complementary investigations (laser flare photometry, multimodal imaging, perimetry, electroretinography measures). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Introduction La démarche diagnostique au cours des uvéites n’est pas standardisée. Elle doit prendre en compte l’épidémiologie des uvéites, cibler les affections les plus sévères et/ou les plus fréquentes, et/ou susceptibles de bénéficier d’un traitement spécifique. Ce travail a été réalisé afin de proposer des recommandations pour le diagnostic des uvéites. Méthodes Les recommandations ont été établies par un groupe de 15 experts, internistes, ophtalmologistes et rhumatologues, à partir d’une revue de la littérature et de l’étude ULISSE qui est la première étude prospective à avoir évalué une stratégie diagnostique pour les uvéites. Sont exclues de ces recommandations les uvéites de l’enfant, de l’immunodéprimé, les vascularites rétiniennes sévères et les entités purement ophtalmologiques. Résultats Le bilan paraclinique doit en premier lieu être orienté par les éléments de l’interrogatoire et les signes cliniques. La sérologie syphilitique est la seule sérologie systématique. Les sérologies toxoplasmose et herpès virus seront réalisées en cas de suspicion diagnostique et avant tout prélèvement oculaire. En l’absence de cause identifiée, nous proposons un bilan paraclinique orienté par les caractéristiques de l’uvéite. Il comporte un typage HLA B27 (uvéite antérieure aiguë unilatérale non granulomateuse), un dosage de l’enzyme de conversion de l’angiotensine, un test IFN-γ release assay (IGRA) et un scanner thoracique (uvéite chronique), une IRM cérébrale associée à une ponction de chambre antérieure avec dosage de l’interleukine 10 (uvéite intermédiaire ou postérieure après 40 ans). La rentabilité d’examens complémentaires non orientés est très faible. Conclusions Nous proposons une stratégie diagnostique pour les uvéites. Les recommandations doivent être actualisées régulièrement. La place des examens les plus invasifs reste à définir. Introduction Diagnostic work-up of uveitis involves many uncertainties. Search for an etiology should take into account the epidemiology of uveitis and focus on the most severe diseases or those, which can be treated. This work was undertaken to establish recommendations for the diagnosis work-up of uveitis. Methods Recommendations were developed by a multidisciplinary panel of 15 experts, including internists, ophthalmologists and a rheumatologist and are based on a review of the literature with regard to effectiveness of investigations and the results of the ULISSE study, which is the first prospective study assessing the efficiency of a standardized strategy for the etiological diagnosis of uveitis. Children, immunocompromised patients, severe retinal vasculitis and specific ophthalmological entities are excluded from these recommendations. Results Investigations should be first guided by the history and physical examination. Serological screening for syphilis is the only test appropriate in all forms of uveitis. If no diagnosis is made after this stage, we propose investigations guided by the anatomic characteristics of uveitis. It includes HLA B27 testing (in unilateral acute anterior non-granulomatous uveitis), serum angiotensin converting enzyme, interferon-gamma release assay and chest CT (chronic uveitis), cerebral MRI and anterior chamber tap with IL10 analysis (intermediate or posterior uveitis in patients over 40 years). Investigations ordered in the absence of orientation are almost always unhelpful. Conclusions We propose a strategy for the etiologic diagnosis of uveitis. The recommendations should be updated regularly. The efficiency of more invasive investigations has yet to be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]