Prompt and Sustained Suppression of Intraocular Inflammation with Adalimumab in Pediatric Patients with Non-Infectious Uveitis Resistant to Traditional Managements: A 6-Month Follow-Up Research

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of adalimumab (ADA) on visual acuity (VA), ocular inflammation, vitreous haze and central macular thickness (CMT) in pediatric refractory non-infectious uveitis.

Methods: Thirty-one eyes of 16 pediatric patients with uveitis of various etiologies were treated with ADA. VA, intraocular active inflammatory cells, vitreous haze, and CMT were evaluated at the baseline and 2, 4, 12, and 24 weeks following ADA treatment.

Results: Twenty-three of 31 eyes had active and the remaining 8 eyes had inactive uveitis (with frequent relapse) before ADA therapy. VA (LogMAR) increased at 12 week following ADA treatment (p< .001). Intraocular inflammation degrees significantly improved within 4 weeks (p< .001). Vitreous haze decreased at fourth week and stabilized at 12th week (p= .038). CMT started to decrease within weeks and stabilized at 12 week (p= .006).

Conclusions: ADA was found to be safe and effective to suppress intraocular inflammation in pediatric non-infectious uveitis, which prevented sight-threatening complications.