Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate usefullness and security of methotrexate in pars planitis patients resistent to conventional therapy. Design: Prospective, comparative, longitudinal and experimental.
Material and Methods: :
We included pars planitis patients resistent to conventional antinflamatory therapy from april 2004 to octuber 2005. They recived methotrexate 5 mg weekly. Vitreous cells were assessed at each visit as well as best corrected visual acuity and liver function before an after the treatment.
Results: :
Twenty three patients (46 eyes) were included. Fourteen men (61%), from 5 to 25 years old (11±5 years). 15 patients had pars planitis and or steroids complications before treatment with methotrexate: lens opacity 27 eyes, posterior sinequiae 11 eyes, band keratopathy 16 eyes, vitreous hemorrhage, macular edema, macular hole in 5 eyes. At the end of follow up 43 eyes (94%) improved vitreous cells. In fourteen patients (61%) inflammatory activity was eliminated. Liver function was affected in 7 patients but only one requires to stop treatment.
Conclusions: :
Methotrexate is and ussefull option of patients with pars planitis unresponsive to conventional therapy, with few adverse effects. Keys words: pars planitis, methotrexate, vitreous cells.
Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • uvea • inflammation