Effect of Anti-TNF Treatment on Mooren's Ulcer: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

We present our experience with five patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) agents who were unresponsive to conventional treatment. Additionally, we summarize the current experience with biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in Mooren's ulcer. To report the efficacy of systemic anti-TNF agents in Mooren's ulcer. Retrospective, consecutive case series. We report on clinical characteristics and outcome of five patients with Mooren's ulcer with anti-TNF treatment. During a mean follow-up of 30 months, relief of symptoms and arrest of corneal melting were observed in all eyes. Systemic corticosteroid treatment could be discontinued or reduced to threshold levels. No patient experienced adverse effects on bDMARDs. Our results suggest that bDMARDs are effective in Mooren's ulcer unresponsive to conventional treatment. This is in line with accumulating evidence in the current literature. Therefore, more targeted immunomodulatory approaches might be an effective first-line therapy in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]