Sudden visual loss in a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis

Comparable Efficacy of Abatacept Used as First-line or Second-line Biological Agent for Severe Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-related Uveitis

Objective.

Abatacept (ABA) has recently been proposed as second-line treatment in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)–associated uveitis refractory to anti–tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF) agents, but little is known about its efficacy as a first-line approach. The aim of the present study was to compare the safety and efficacy of ABA as a first-line biological agent (ABA-1) with that of ABA as a second-line treatment after 1 or more anti-TNF agents (ABA-2), in patients with severe JIA-related uveitis.

Methods.

In this multicenter study, we collected data on patients with severe JIA-related uveitis treated with ABA as a first-line or second-line biological agent. Changes in frequency of uveitis flares/year and ocular complications before and after ABA treatment, clinical remission, and side effects were recorded.

Results.

Thirty-five patients with a mean age of 10.8 years were treated with ABA for a mean period of 19.6 months. In 4 patients, ABA administration was discontinued, owing to inefficacy on arthritis in 3 cases and allergic reaction in 1. Thirty-one patients, 14 in the ABA-1 group and 17 in the ABA-2 group, completed the 12-month followup period; of these, 17 (54.8%) had clinical remission. The mean frequency of uveitis flares decreased from 4.1 to 1.2 in the ABA-1 group (p = 0.002) and from 3.7 to 1.2 in the ABA-2 group (p = 0.004). Preexisting ocular complications improved or remained stable in all but 5 patients, all in the ABA-2 group. No significant difference was found between the efficacy of the 2 treatment modalities. ABA confirmed its good safety profile.

Conclusion.

ABA, used as first-line biological treatment or after 1 or more anti-TNF agents, induces a comparable improvement in severe refractory JIA-related uveitis.

Optic Neuritis Associated or Not with TNF Antagonists in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Acute optic neuritis [ON] is an inflammatory condition affecting the optic nerve. Clinicians should suspect optic neuritis in cases of painful and rapidly progressive loss of central visual field. This condition may be associated with a multitude of diseases, and mostly with multiple sclerosis [MS] where it may present as an initial symptom. The literature reports that optic neuritis and MS occur in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] before and after the era of anti-tumour necrosis factor-α [TNFα] drugs. At the present moment, there is little consensus for managing this complication, currently treated with corticosteroids and discontinuation of the causative agents.

METHODS

We collected cases through a retrospective multicentre European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation CONFER [COllaborative Network For Exceptionally Rare case reports] project. We also performed a comprehensive retrospective search of the available literature on this topic.

RESULTS

We report herein 12 new cases of ON, including 10 under anti-TNF therapy, collected through the CONFER project. We also compare characteristics of ON associated or not with anti-TNFα agents.

CONCLUSIONS

The exceptional and current observation of distant family history of MS in 17% of our patients who developed ON, despite the small number and the lack of a control arm, might be an important signal that should be taken into account in our therapeutic strategies in the future.

Bilateral optic neuropathy associated with the tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor golimumab

A 62-year-old man developed bilateral blurred vision associated with bilateral optic disc swelling shortly after receiving his third dose of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor golimumab, that he took for psoriatic arthritis. An extensive assessment including magnetic resonance imaging, lumbar puncture, and serologies was negative. He was treated with systemic corticosteroids and the golimumab was stopped, after which his vision improved and his disc swelling resolved. We postulate that the bilateral, simultaneous anterior optic neuropathies in this patient were due to golimumab, representing a rare but well-documented serious adverse event associated with TNF-α inhibitors.

Bilateral optic neuritis associated with the use of infliximab

A 40 year old man was admitted with a 2 weeks history of headache, blurred vision and bilateral optic neuritis. During the 6 months period prior to admission he had treated with infliximab infusions for prsoriasis arthritis. He had 0.2 vision in right eye and 0.5 in left Fundoscopy showed moderate disc swelling more on the right than on the left side and right-sided splinter heamorrhages at the disc margin. The intracranial pressure was normal. He was treated with oral methylprednisolone, 100 mg daily for 1 week. His vision improved gradually and when seen 10 weeks later his visual acuity was 1.0 in both eyes and he had normal visual fields. Optic neuritis is a rare but well recognized serious adverse effect of treatments with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists. This case report illustrates a rare but typical side effect of a TNF alpha inhibitors used for treating a number of inflammatory diseases. These reactions usually appear during first year of treatments and never after the first one or two infusions. Both genders and all ages are affected. In some patients the visual defects are irreversible.

Recurrent bilateral orbital myositis: case report and review of the literature

Orbital myositis in children is uncommon. Recurrence is a major challenge in management. An 11-year-old Malay girl who presented with bilateral orbital myositis with recurrent attacks of diplopia is reported.