1. Biologic therapy for refractory scleritis: a new treatment perspective.
- Author
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de Fidelix TS, Vieira LA, de Freitas D, and Trevisani VF
- Subjects
- Adalimumab therapeutic use, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized therapeutic use, Certolizumab Pegol, Etanercept therapeutic use, Humans, Infliximab therapeutic use, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha antagonists & inhibitors, Angiogenesis Inhibitors therapeutic use, Anti-Inflammatory Agents therapeutic use, Biological Therapy methods, Immunosuppressive Agents therapeutic use, Scleritis drug therapy
- Abstract
Scleritis is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous group of ocular diseases that can be associated with autoimmune or systemic disorders. The purpose of this article was to review the literature regarding the use of biologic drugs to treat refractory scleritis. A search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS electronic databases was conducted, and the reference lists of published articles were hand-searched. No language filters were used. This search strategy yielded no randomized trials of the use of biologic therapies to treat scleritis; only case reports and retrospective studies were retrieved. These studies suggest that monoclonal antibodies (infliximab and adalimumab) are superior to the soluble TNF receptor fusion protein etanercept for the treatment of scleritis in patients that do not respond to corticosteroids and/or to immunosuppressive treatment. Rituximab seems to be the best option for scleritis associated with vasculitis.
- Published
- 2015
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