Pharmacotherapy for uveitis: current management and emerging therapy

Abstract

Robert J Barry,1 Quan Dong Nguyen,2 Richard W Lee,3 Philip I Murray,1 Alastair K Denniston1,4 1Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Centre for Translational Inflammation, Research, University of Birmingham, UK; 2Stanley M Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; 3Inflammation and Immunotherapy Theme, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation trust, Birmingham, UK Abstract: Uveitis, a group of conditions characterized by intraocular inflammation, is a major cause of sight loss in the working population. Most uveitis seen in Western countries is noninfectious and appears to be autoimmune or autoinflammatory in nature, requiring treatment with immunosuppressive and/or anti-inflammatory drugs. In this educational review, we outline the ideal characteristics of drugs for uveitis and review the data to support the use of current and emerging therapies in this context. It is crucial that we continue to develop new therapies for use in uveitis that aim to suppress disease activity, prevent accumulation of damage, and preserve visual function for patients with the minimum possible side effects. Keywords: clinical trials, immunomodulatory therapeutic agents, immunosuppression, inflammation, uvea