Therapeutic Outcomes of Non-Infectious Scleritis Treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Inhibitors.

PubMed ID: 37043601

Author(s): Brown JE, Thomas AS, Armbrust KR, Boyd K, Berkenstock M, Kopplin LJ. Therapeutic Outcomes of Non-Infectious Scleritis Treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Inhibitors. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2023 Apr 12:1-7. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2023.2191712. Online ahead of print. PMID 37043601

Journal: Ocular Immunology And Inflammation, Apr 2023

PURPOSE We determine the efficacy of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) inhibitors in establishing scleritis quiescence.

METHODS We conducted a multicenter retrospective chart review of patients with non-infectious scleritis treated with a TNF inhibitor for at least 6 months. The primary endpoint was scleritis quiescence at 6 months. Secondary endpoints included scleritis quiescence at 12 months, TNF inhibitor effects on concurrent doses of systemic corticosteroids and visual acuity outcomes at 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS At 6 months, 82.2% (37/45) of subjects obtained scleritis quiescence with TNF inhibition. At 12 months, 76.2% (32/42) of subjects remained quiescent. Baseline daily corticosteroid use (21.5 ± 21.6 mg) decreased to 5.4 ± 8.3 mg by 6 months (p < 0.0001) and 2.8 ± 6.1 mg by 12 months (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the baseline and 6-month BCVA (p = 0.52).

CONCLUSIONS TNF inhibitors are an effective scleritis therapy with significant systemic corticosteroid sparing effect.