TY - JOUR T1 - Immunomodulatory therapy with tumour necrosis factor α inhibitors in children with antinuclear antibody-associated chronic anterior uveitis: long-term results JF - British Journal of Ophthalmology JO - Br J Ophthalmol SP - 523 LP - 528 DO - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303935 VL - 98 IS - 4 AU - Deshka Doycheva AU - Manfred Zierhut AU - Gunnar Blumenstock AU - Nicole Stuebiger AU - Kai Januschowski AU - Bogomil Voykov AU - Christoph Deuter Y1 - 2014/04/01 UR - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/98/4/523.abstract N2 - Aim The aim of the study was to assess the long-term efficacy and tolerability of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors in the therapy of children with refractory antinuclear antibody (ANA)-associated chronic anterior uveitis. Methods Retrospective analysis of 31 children with ANA-associated uveitis, treated with TNFα inhibitors with a follow-up period of at least 2 years. The outcome measures included: control of inflammation, corticosteroid-sparing potential and side effects. Results Twenty-three children (74%) were treated with adalimumab, five children (16%) with infliximab and three children (10%) with etanercept. Control of uveitis, defined as 0 anterior chamber cells while on ≤2 drops/day topical corticosteroids, was achieved in 22 of 31 patients (71%) after 1 year (95% CI 52% to 86%), and in 21 of 29 patients (72%) after 2 years of treatment (95% CI 53% to 87%). Control of uveitis was observed in 18 of 23 children (78%) treated with adalimumab, and in two of five children (40%) treated with infliximab. In all children treated with etanercept, no sufficient inflammatory control was found. Systemic corticosteroids could be discontinued in 71% (12/17 children) and topical corticosteroids in 55% (17/31) of the patients. Treatment-related side effects were found in nine children (29%, rate: 0.10/patient-year). Conclusions Our data show that adalimumab and infliximab have beneficial effects in the therapy of severe ANA-associated anterior uveitis in children. ER -