Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Cover Image for Volume 57, Issue 12
September 2016
Volume 57, Issue 12
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   September 2016
Efficacy and Clinical outcomes of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in refractory uveitis
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Haitham F Sahawneh
    Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
    Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • C. Stephen Foster
    Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
    Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Haitham Sahawneh, None; C. Stephen Foster , None
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science September 2016, Vol.57, 1892. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Haitham F Sahawneh, C. Stephen Foster; Efficacy and Clinical outcomes of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in refractory uveitis. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2016;57(12):1892.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose : To assess the efficacy and clinical outcomes of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in patients with severe uveitis unresponsive to conventional immunomodulatory agents.

Methods : Review of clinical charts at Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute was conducted to document response and clinical outcomes to IVIG treatment in five patients with treatment-refractory uveitis. All patients had severe and recalcitrant uveitis of diverse etiologies. Main outcome measures were control of intraocular inflammation, inducing durable remission, visual acuity, and side effects.

Results : Treatment was effective in controlling the intraocular inflammation in four of five patients, one of these patients required one additional immunomodulatory agent to achieve remission. Durable remission was achieved in three of five patients now still in remission off IVIG. Visual acuity was maintained in four of five patients. Side effects were migraine headache in one patient, malaise and shortness of breath in other patient.

Conclusions : Intravenous immunoglobulins therapy was an effective therapeutic modality in the treatment of refractory uveitis in four of five patients, one of these patients required one more additional immunomodulatory agent to achieve remission, the other three achieved durable remission on IVIG and we were able to taper and stop it for them.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.

×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×