Efficacy and safety of biologics in pediatric non-infectious retinal vasculitis.

Abstract

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy and safety of adalimumab (ADA) injections (Group 1), infliximab (IFX) (Group 2), and tocilizumab (TCZ) (Group 3) infusions in pediatric non-infectious retinal vasculitis (RV). DESIGN Retrospective interventional case series. METHODS Pediatric patients who were diagnosed with non-infectious RV and treated with biologics (ADA, IFX, TCZ) for ≥6 months were included. Chart review of 11 patients (18 eyes), 17 patients (30 eyes), and 7 patients (11 eyes) in Group 1, 2 and 3, respectively, was performed to assess clinical characteristics, central subfield thickness (CST), and fluorescein angiography (FA) score using the Angiographic Scoring for the Uveitis Working Group (ASUWOG) system. RESULTS Mean age was 13.5±4.3 years in Group 1, 11.8±2.5 years in Group 2, and 13.9±4.1 years in Group 3 (p=0.332). Eight patients (72.7%, 13 eyes) in Group 1, and 14 patients (82.4%, 24 eyes) in Group 2 were biologic-naïve, whereas in Group 3 all patients were treated with ADA and/or IFX prior to TCZ. Mean FA scores were significantly reduced from 6.8±2.6, 13.4±4.8, and 12.8±4.0 at baseline to 0.9±2.3, 3.6±4.6, and 4.4±3.9 at final visit in Group 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p<0.05). Complete RV resolution was observed in 12 (66.7%), 13 (43.3%), and 1 (9.1%) eyes; mean time to complete resolution was 11.0±5.0, 13.3±5.8, and 23 months in Group 1, 2, and 3, respectively. No significant adverse events were observed in any group, except hair loss in one patient which led to discontinuation of IFX infusions after 20 cycles of therapy. CONCLUSION ADA, IFZ, and TCZ are effective and safe treatment options for pediatric non-infectious RV as objectively shown by FA scoring. TCZ appears as an effective therapy for patients with JIA-associated RV or those who failed TNF-α inhibitors.