Efficacy of B Cell Depletion Therapy with Rituximab in Refractory Chronic Recurrent Uveitis Associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease
Ahmed M. Abu El‐Asrar, Abdulsalam M. Dheyab, D. El Khatib, Sofie Struyf, Jo Van Damme, Ghislain Opdenakker
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of B cell depletion therapy with the chimeric mouse/human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab for refractory chronic recurrent granulomatous uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.Methods Retrospective study of 9 patients (18 eyes) who failed to respond to conventional combination immunosuppressive therapy.Results All the patients received 3 rituximab infusions. The follow-up period after initiation of rituximab therapy ranged from 9 to 36 months (mean ±SD, 19.2 ± 10.1). All patients achieved remission and visual acuity significantly improved (p < .001). Rituximab provided corticosteroid-sparing effect along with control of inflammation. No rituximab-related complications were observed.Conclusions Rituximab is effective for the treatment of refractory chronic recurrent granulomatous uveitis associated with VKH disease.