Hyun Sun Jeon1, Joon Young Hyon1, Mee Kum Kim2, Tae-Young Chung3, Kyung Chul Yoon4, Jae Yong Kim5, Kyung-Sun Na6, Hyung Joon Kim7, Tae-Im Kim8, Jong Soo Lee9, Hyung Keun Lee10, Jong Suk Song11. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 4. Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea. 5. Department of Ophthalmology, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. 6. Department of Ophthalmology, The Catholic University of Korea, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea. 7. Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu Catholic Hospital, Daegu, Korea. 8. Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. 9. Department of Ophthalmology, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital & Medical Research Institute, Pusan, Korea. 10. Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. 11. Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of cyclophosphamide and other immunosuppressive agents (ISAs) in the treatment of necrotising scleritis. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients with necrotising scleritis at 11 tertiary care centres in South Korea from 2002 to 2012, treated with ISAs within 3 months of follow-up period. We divided patients into two groups: a group treated with cyclophosphamide (CYC group) and a group treated with other ISAs; azathioprine, ciclosporin, methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil (OISA group). Main outcome measures evaluated were remission rate, relapse rate, rate of visual loss, steroid-sparing rate, adverse effects and discontinuation of medication due to adverse effects. RESULTS: CYC group had a remission in 95.2% of the patients and OISA group had in 96.3%. Remission rate, relapse rate, visual loss rate and steroid-sparing rate were not significantly different between the two groups (all p>0.05). The median duration of steroid use was longer in CYC group than in other OISA group (55 vs 16 days, p=0.09). The incidence of adverse effects in the CYC group was comparable with that of the OISA group (61.9% vs 41.4%, p=0.15). However, the incidence of leucopenia, haemorrhagic cystitis and discontinuation of medication due to adverse effects were much higher in the CYC group (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of cyclophosphamide in the treatment of necrotising scleritis was comparable with that of other ISAs. However, the rate of discontinuation due to side effects was much higher in the CYC group. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of cyclophosphamide and other immunosuppressive agents (ISAs) in the treatment of necrotising scleritis. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients with necrotising scleritis at 11 tertiary care centres in South Korea from 2002 to 2012, treated with ISAs within 3 months of follow-up period. We divided patients into two groups: a group treated with cyclophosphamide (CYC group) and a group treated with other ISAs; azathioprine, ciclosporin, methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil (OISA group). Main outcome measures evaluated were remission rate, relapse rate, rate of visual loss, steroid-sparing rate, adverse effects and discontinuation of medication due to adverse effects. RESULTS: CYC group had a remission in 95.2% of the patients and OISA group had in 96.3%. Remission rate, relapse rate, visual loss rate and steroid-sparing rate were not significantly different between the two groups (all p>0.05). The median duration of steroid use was longer in CYC group than in other OISA group (55 vs 16 days, p=0.09). The incidence of adverse effects in the CYC group was comparable with that of the OISA group (61.9% vs 41.4%, p=0.15). However, the incidence of leucopenia, haemorrhagic cystitis and discontinuation of medication due to adverse effects were much higher in the CYC group (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of cyclophosphamide in the treatment of necrotising scleritis was comparable with that of other ISAs. However, the rate of discontinuation due to side effects was much higher in the CYC group. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
Entities:
Keywords:
Immunology; Inflammation; Pharmacology; Sclera and Episclera; Treatment Medical