Adalimumab (ADA) in Pediatric Non-infectious Uveitis: An Observational Study

Objectives:  Pediatric uveitis is a rare but sight-threatening condition. Prompt and adequate treatment is crucial to preserve vision and avoid long-term complications. In cases that are resistant to corticosteroids and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), anti-tumor necrosis (anti-TNF) biologic agents are usually added. In this study, we report our experience with adalimumab (ADA) anti-TNF use in this group of patients.

Methods:  This is a retrospective observational study conducted in a tertiary pediatric uveitis clinic, in Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. All patients were pediatric patients (aged 2-18 years old) under follow-up during the period of six months. The patients' data were analyzed according to the diagnosis, age of onset of uveitis, systemic medications used before and concomitantly with ADA, duration of uveitis before starting ADA, its effect, and time to notice the therapeutic effect in controlling inflammation. Finally, cases were reviewed for the development of anti-drug antibodies.

Results:  Forty-two patients were included in the study. Idiopathic uveitis was diagnosed in 47.6% of patients and 40.5% of patients were associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Most (97.6%) of patients were using topical steroids before starting ADA and 95.2% continued using steroids after established ADA use, but systemic steroid use was reduced from 33.3% to 14.3%. The most common non-biologic DMARD used before ADA was methotrexate (MTX) (90.5%). One-third of the patients started ADA between 6 and 12 months after the diagnosis of uveitis, while this percentage dropped to 9.5% the year after diagnosis. Seventy-eight percent of patients acquired complete clinical control of inflammation on ADA use. Almost 78.6% of patients showed a full response in less than six months. In eight patients who were not controlled or were transiently controlled on ADA, three patients had positive anti-drug antibodies. In one patient, antidrug antibodies were identified after 12 years of ADA use, and in another, after 4 years.

Conclusion:  Adalimumab is an effective, well-tolerated drug in children with uveitis refractory to non-biologic DMARD therapy. DMARDs were usually used alongside ADA in this cohort and few patients had confirmed ADA antibodies.