D Wakefield1, A Jennings, P J McCluskey. 1. School of Pathology University of New South Wales, Department of Ophthalmology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia. d.wakefield@unsw.edu.au
Abstract
PURPOSE: To demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) in the treatment of uveitis in association with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Uveitis is an unusual manifestation of MS that may be severe, chronic and require systemic immunosuppression therapy. High-dose IVMP has previously been shown to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory eye disease and MS. Eight episodes of uveitis in five patients with MS were treated over a 10-year period in an open, uncontrolled trial. Two patients had chronic anterior uveitis, one patient had bilateral panuveitis and two patients had intermediate uveitis. RESULTS: All patients responded to IVMP with evidence of a decrease in intraocular inflammatory activity and improved visual acuity (VA) within 2 weeks of commencing treatment. There were no severe ocular or systemic steroid side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous methylprednisolone is an effective, well-tolerated form of therapy for uveitis in patients with MS.
PURPOSE: To demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) in the treatment of uveitis in association with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS:Uveitis is an unusual manifestation of MS that may be severe, chronic and require systemic immunosuppression therapy. High-dose IVMP has previously been shown to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory eye disease and MS. Eight episodes of uveitis in five patients with MS were treated over a 10-year period in an open, uncontrolled trial. Two patients had chronic anterior uveitis, one patient had bilateral panuveitis and two patients had intermediate uveitis. RESULTS: All patients responded to IVMP with evidence of a decrease in intraocular inflammatory activity and improved visual acuity (VA) within 2 weeks of commencing treatment. There were no severe ocular or systemic steroid side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous methylprednisolone is an effective, well-tolerated form of therapy for uveitis in patients with MS.
Authors: M D Becker; A Heiligenhaus; T Hudde; B Storch-Hagenlocher; B Wildemann; T Barisani-Asenbauer; C Thimm; N Stübiger; M Trieschmann; C Fiehn Journal: Br J Ophthalmol Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 4.638