Treatment of recurrent anterior uveitis with infliximab in patient with ankylosing spondylitis.

BACKGROUND: We describe a HLA-B27-positive Japanese man with recurrent severe anterior uveitis OU and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who was successfully treated with infliximab. CASE: A 25-year-old HLA-B27-positive Japanese man presented with recurrent anterior uveitis OU. The symptoms were consistent with typical HLA-B27-associated uveitis, whereas the subsequent course, which consisted of frequent episodes of recurrent severe anterior uveitis, was atypical. Although the patient was treated with intensive topical corticosteroids, cycloplegic treatment, sub-Tenon triamcinolone acetonide injections, systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents, recurrence of the anterior uveitis persisted. Over 8 years there were 14 documented episodes of recurrent anterior uveitis OD and 10 OSs. At age 33, the patient was diagnosed with AS after a radiographic examination. We began infusions of infliximab (2.5 mg/kg) at 0, 2 and 6 weeks, and then every 8 weeks thereafter. The recurrent uveitis disappeared, and the immunosuppressive agents and oral corticosteroids were tapered and discontinued without relapse. All drugs other than infliximab were successfully stopped in October 2010. During the follow-up period, there were no adverse events.
CONCLUSION: A case of severe recurrent anterior uveitis OU in a patient with AS with infliximab was successfully treated. This is the first report describing the efficacy of infliximab in AS-associated uveitis in Japan.