BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is known to play an important role in various immune-mediated ocular diseases; intravenous administration of the anti-TNF monoclonal antibody infliximab has proved beneficial in such cases. Since intravitreal injection (when available) is a substitute for systemic administration of various drugs targeting the eye, we aimed to evaluate the safety of intravitreal injection of infliximab in the rabbit eye. METHODS: Seven groups of New Zealand white rabbits (four animals in each group) received a single unilateral intravitreal injection (0.1 ml) of increasing doses of infliximab (namely 1, 2, 5, 8, 10 or 20 mg infliximab [Remicade]) or a sham injection respectively. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundoscopy and electrophysiology recordings, i.e. scotopic, photopic and flicker responses, were performed at baseline and after 1, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 days. Infliximab-injected eyes were compared with sham-injected and with uninjected fellow eyes (n = 28). Animals were euthanized on day 45 for histopathological examination of the retinas. RESULTS: Clinical examination and electrophysiological testing were consistently unremarkable after either sham or 1 mg or 2 mg infliximab injections. In contrast, electrophysiological recordings were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner from day 1 through day 45, after 5, 8, 10 and 20 mg infliximab injections. Flicker responses were the most sensitive in detecting the lower toxic dose of 5 mg. Histopathological findings were similar in uninjected and sham-injected eyes, as well as after 1 mg or 2 mg infliximab injections. Consistent with the functional abnormalities, retinal deformities and diffuse edema were observed after injection of 5 mg or higher doses of infliximab. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal infliximab may be safely administered up to a dose of 2 mg in the rabbit eye. Such doses can be used in the design of future clinical trials assessing the effects of infliximab for selected patients with immune-mediated ocular conditions.
BACKGROUND:Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is known to play an important role in various immune-mediated ocular diseases; intravenous administration of the anti-TNF monoclonal antibody infliximab has proved beneficial in such cases. Since intravitreal injection (when available) is a substitute for systemic administration of various drugs targeting the eye, we aimed to evaluate the safety of intravitreal injection of infliximab in the rabbit eye. METHODS: Seven groups of New Zealand white rabbits (four animals in each group) received a single unilateral intravitreal injection (0.1 ml) of increasing doses of infliximab (namely 1, 2, 5, 8, 10 or 20 mg infliximab [Remicade]) or a sham injection respectively. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundoscopy and electrophysiology recordings, i.e. scotopic, photopic and flicker responses, were performed at baseline and after 1, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 days. Infliximab-injected eyes were compared with sham-injected and with uninjected fellow eyes (n = 28). Animals were euthanized on day 45 for histopathological examination of the retinas. RESULTS: Clinical examination and electrophysiological testing were consistently unremarkable after either sham or 1 mg or 2 mg infliximab injections. In contrast, electrophysiological recordings were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner from day 1 through day 45, after 5, 8, 10 and 20 mg infliximab injections. Flicker responses were the most sensitive in detecting the lower toxic dose of 5 mg. Histopathological findings were similar in uninjected and sham-injected eyes, as well as after 1 mg or 2 mg infliximab injections. Consistent with the functional abnormalities, retinal deformities and diffuse edema were observed after injection of 5 mg or higher doses of infliximab. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal infliximab may be safely administered up to a dose of 2 mg in the rabbit eye. Such doses can be used in the design of future clinical trials assessing the effects of infliximab for selected patients with immune-mediated ocular conditions.
Authors: Petros P Sfikakis; Nikos Markomichelakis; George P Theodossiadis; Vlassis Grigoropoulos; Nikos Katsilambros; Panayiotis G Theodossiadis Journal: Diabetes Care Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 19.112
Authors: B J Wegscheider; L El-Shabrawi; M Weger; N Ardjomand; J Hermann; E Aberer; Y El-Shabrawi Journal: Eye (Lond) Date: 2006-02-03 Impact factor: 3.775
Authors: Toshihiko Ueda; Takako Ueda; Shohei Fukuda; Richard Browne; Edwin Jenis; Robert Spengler; Richard Chou; Peter Buch; Ahmad Aljada; Paresh Dandona; R. Sasisekharan; C. Kathleen Dorey; Donald Armstrong Journal: Angiogenesis Date: 1998 Impact factor: 9.596
Authors: Isabel Pascual-Camps; Pablo Hernández-Martínez; Laura Monje-Fernández; Rosa Dolz-Marco; Roberto Gallego-Pinazo; Lihteh Wu; J Fernando Arévalo; Manuel Díaz-Llopis Journal: J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect Date: 2014-10-15
Authors: Petros P Sfikakis; Vlassis Grigoropoulos; Ioannis Emfietzoglou; George Theodossiadis; Nicholas Tentolouris; Evi Delicha; Christina Katsiari; Kleopatra Alexiadou; Erifili Hatziagelaki; Panayiotis G Theodossiadis Journal: Diabetes Care Date: 2010-04-22 Impact factor: 17.152
Authors: Osman Ondas; Orhan Ates; Sadullah Keles; Kenan Yildirim; Orhan Baykal; Selina Aksak Karamese; Murat Karamese; Hakan Uslu; Mustafa Yildirim; Muhammet Emin Naldan; Irem Ates Journal: Eurasian J Med Date: 2017-06-05
Authors: Maria H Madeira; Raquel Boia; Paulo F Santos; António F Ambrósio; Ana R Santiago Journal: Mediators Inflamm Date: 2015-03-22 Impact factor: 4.711