Abstract
Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of anti-TNF drug, Infliximab, in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.
Methods:
Retrospective chart review of a specialty practice.
Results:
Nine patients with the diagnosis of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid who were treated with infliximab infusion were identified. Age at diagnosis ranged from 29-88 years old, six were female and 3 were male, and all patients had stage 1-3 disease. The follow up following diagnosis ranged from 1 consultation visit to 111 months. The dosage of infliximab used ranged from 4.76mg/kg to 7.5mg/kg. Four patients achieved remission with Infliximab alone, 1 patient achieved remission with infliximab and one other immune-modulatory drug and the remaining 4 patients failed to achieve remission with Infliximab.
Conclusions:
Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) is an inflammatory condition that is potentially blinding. Immunosuppressive chemotherapy is required to control this disease. Several chemotherapy medications have been used successfully in the treatment of OCP. However, treatment resistance and side effects to medication may limit a patient’s options for treatment. Elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha in the serum and conjunctiva have been previously documented in patients with OCP. We report a preliminary set of data that show some promise in the efficacy of infused infliximab at doses of 4.76-7.5mg/kg in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.