Abstract
Purpose :
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic allergic inflammation of the ocular surface typically affecting children and adolescents that is both debilitating and potentially vision threatening. In 2021, cyclosporine A (CsA) 0.1% cationic emulsion was approved by the FDA for the treatment of VKC. Here we present our real-life experience implementing CsA 0.1% in practice.
Methods :
Retrospective chart review of 19 patients prescribed with CsA 0.1% for the treatment of VKC. Preliminary results of 6 patients with at least 1 month follow-up at the time of this writing are presented here. Grade of VKC pre- and post-treatment with CsA 0.1% was scored via the Bonini scale and compared via paired t-test.
Results :
Six patients (4 males, 2 females) with mean age 13.0 ± 6.8 years. All previously used topical corticosteroids and antihistamines for VKC and 50% had trialed CsA 0.05%. All patients continued to endorse symptoms of itching, tearing, or redness and demonstrate papillae, conjunctival hyperemia, and/or Horner-Trantas dots on exam indicating use of CsA 0.1%. Mean follow-up while on CsA 0.1% to date was 12.0 ± 7.9 weeks. Mean pre-treatment Bonini score was 2.5 ± 0.5. At last follow-up mean Bonini score was 1.0 ± 1.3 (p =0.03) Five patients were using corticosteroid concurrently at treatment initiation, among whom three patients were tapered off successfully by 8, 12, and 16 weeks respectively. No adverse effects associated with CsA 0.1% were reported.
Conclusions :
In this real-life cohort, patients with VKC can taper topical corticosteorid successfully after the introduction of CsA 0.1%. Similar to the VEKTIS trial, Bonini score decreased with use of CsA 0.1% suggesting a decrease in severity of VKC.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.