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Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2019To report our experiences of the juvenile Behçet's disease (BD) patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and to review previous studies reporting the...
OBJECTIVES
To report our experiences of the juvenile Behçet's disease (BD) patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and to review previous studies reporting the clinical characteristics and outcomes of juvenile BD with CVST.
METHODS
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of paediatric patients with CVST who met the Paediatric Behçet's Disease (PEDBD) classification criteria for juvenile BD from 3 referral centres in Turkey were reviewed retrospectively. A systematic review of literature of all published data was conducted.
RESULTS
The study group consisted of 12 juvenile BD patients with CVST. At the time of CVST diagnosis, the most common symptom was headache (100%), followed by vomiting (25%), blurred vision (16.7%), and disturbances in eye movements (16.7%). Six (50%) patients presented with CVST. Transverse sinus was the most frequently affected sinus (9/12, 75%) followed by superior sagittal sinus. The mean (±2SD) BDCAF at the CVST diagnosis was 6 (±3.8). Four children (33.3%) had another venous thrombosis apart from CVST. All patients received pulse methylprednisolone for three consecutive days continued with oral prednisolone. Steroid treatment was tapered and discontinued minimum in six months. Eleven patients received azathioprine concomitant to steroid treatment at the time of CVST. All the patients received anticoagulant therapy concomitantly. Only one patient who did not receive azathioprine relapsed. Median follow-up period was 4 years (IQR: 2-5.4). In the literature review, we identified nine articles, describing 35 pediatric CVST patients associated with BD. Thirty patients achieved remission, while five patients had residual neurologic deficit.
CONCLUSIONS
Neuroimaging is very important in the diagnosis of NBD. We suggest that treatment with immunosuppressants and steroid treatment is essential to decrease the adverse events of corticosteroids in the pediatric population and decrease relapses. Further multicenter studies with prospective follow-up may guide us in better management of these patients.
Topics: Adolescent; Behcet Syndrome; Child; Humans; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial; Turkey; Venous Thrombosis
PubMed: 31376249
DOI: No ID Found -
BMC Ophthalmology Sep 2018Cytomegalovirus can cause ocular anterior uveitis with ocular hypertension. Basis on the therapy, ocular pressure usually can be controlled. We report a case of a man... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cytomegalovirus can cause ocular anterior uveitis with ocular hypertension. Basis on the therapy, ocular pressure usually can be controlled. We report a case of a man who had unilateral cytomegalovirus anterior uveitis with refractory glaucoma during the process of treatment.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 57-year-old man who was diagnosed Posner-Schlossman syndrome and was admitted for repeatly attacks of raised IOP in left eye for 4 months. We found the cytomegalovirus -DNA was high (1800 copies/ml) in his aqueous. After systemic used of antiviral drug accompany with topical used of anti-inflammation, anti-glaucoma agents and genciclovir gel, the ocular pressure was dropped to normal. While the pressure elevated again in a month after stopping systemic antiviral treatment. Furthermore, the second test showed cytomegalovirus in aqueous humor decreased to 526 copies/ml. Intravenous drugs to antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-glaucoma were applied, but the ocular pressure was still high. In the progression of glaucomatous damage in the eye, glaucoma surgery was operated with no cytomegalovirus was detected. At last, the postoperative ocular pressure has been controlled.
CONCLUSIONS
CMV infection is not rare. Patients have unilateral mild anterior inflammation with relapsed attacks of elevated intraocular pressure should be considered for CMV infection. We found that concurrent use of systemic and topical ganciclovir in a short period could reduce ocular CMV significantly, while ocular hypertension recurred. The antiviral treatment should be individualized. Glaucoma surgery could be offered to protect CEC loss and glaucomatous damage.
Topics: Cytomegalovirus Infections; Eye Infections, Viral; Glaucoma; Humans; Immunocompetence; Male; Middle Aged; Uveitis, Anterior
PubMed: 30268108
DOI: 10.1186/s12886-018-0917-9 -
Health Technology Assessment... Nov 2017Non-infectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis and panuveitis are a heterogeneous group of inflammatory eye disorders. Management includes local and systemic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Non-infectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis and panuveitis are a heterogeneous group of inflammatory eye disorders. Management includes local and systemic corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and biological drugs.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of subcutaneous adalimumab (Humira; AbbVie Ltd, Maidenhead, UK) and a dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex; Allergan Ltd, Marlow, UK) in adults with non-infectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis or panuveitis.
DATA SOURCES
Electronic databases and clinical trials registries including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and the World Health Organization's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched to June 2016, with an update search carried out in October 2016.
REVIEW METHODS
Review methods followed published guidelines. A Markov model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of dexamethasone and adalimumab, each compared with current practice, from a NHS and Personal Social Services (PSS) perspective over a lifetime horizon, parameterised with published evidence. Costs and benefits were discounted at 3.5%. Substantial sensitivity analyses were undertaken.
RESULTS
Of the 134 full-text articles screened, three studies (four articles) were included in the clinical effectiveness review. Two randomised controlled trials (RCTs) [VISUAL I (active uveitis) and VISUAL II (inactive uveitis)] compared adalimumab with placebo, with limited standard care also provided in both arms. Time to treatment failure (reduced visual acuity, intraocular inflammation, new vascular lesions) was longer in the adalimumab group than in the placebo group, with a hazard ratio of 0.50 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36 to 0.70; < 0.001] in the VISUAL I trial and 0.57 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.84; = 0.004) in the VISUAL II trial. The adalimumab group showed a significantly greater improvement than the placebo group in the 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) composite score in the VISUAL I trial (mean difference 4.20; = 0.010) but not the VISUAL II trial (mean difference 2.12; = 0.16). Some systemic adverse effects occurred more frequently with adalimumab than with placebo. One RCT [HURON (active uveitis)] compared a single 0.7-mg dexamethasone implant against a sham procedure, with limited standard care also provided in both arms. Dexamethasone provided significant benefits over the sham procedure at 8 and 26 weeks in the percentage of patients with a vitreous haze score of zero ( < 0.014), the mean best corrected visual acuity improvement ( ≤ 0.002) and the percentage of patients with a ≥ 5-point improvement in VFQ-25 score ( < 0.05). Raised intraocular pressure and cataracts occurred more frequently with dexamethasone than with the sham procedure. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for one dexamethasone implant in one eye for a combination of patients with unilateral and bilateral uveitis compared with limited current practice, as per the HURON trial, was estimated to be £19,509 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. The ICER of adalimumab for patients with mainly bilateral uveitis compared with limited current practice, as per the VISUAL trials, was estimated to be £94,523 and £317,547 per QALY gained in active and inactive uveitis respectively. Sensitivity analyses suggested that the rate of blindness has the biggest impact on the model results. The interventions may be more cost-effective in populations in which there is a greater risk of blindness.
LIMITATIONS
The clinical trials did not fully reflect clinical practice. Thirteen additional studies of clinically relevant comparator treatments were identified; however, network meta-analysis was not feasible. The model results are highly uncertain because of the limited evidence base.
CONCLUSIONS
Two RCTs of systemic adalimumab and one RCT of a unilateral, single dexamethasone implant showed significant benefits over placebo or a sham procedure. The ICERs for adalimumab were estimated to be above generally accepted thresholds for cost-effectiveness. The cost-effectiveness of dexamethasone was estimated to fall below standard thresholds. However, there is substantial uncertainty around the model assumptions. In future work, primary research should compare dexamethasone and adalimumab with current treatments over the long term and in important subgroups and consider how short-term improvements relate to long-term effects on vision.
STUDY REGISTRATION
This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42016041799.
FUNDING
The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.
Topics: Adalimumab; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Dexamethasone; Humans; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Technology Assessment, Biomedical; Uveitis, Intermediate; Uveitis, Posterior
PubMed: 29183563
DOI: 10.3310/hta21680 -
Medicine Oct 2017To assess the efficacy and safety of immunomodulatory drugs in patients with noninfectious anterior uveitis (AU). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
To assess the efficacy and safety of immunomodulatory drugs in patients with noninfectious anterior uveitis (AU).
METHODS
Systematic review of studies were retrieved from Medline (1961 to March 2016), Embase (1961 to March 2016), and Cochrane Library (up to March 2016), and a complementary hand search was also performed. The selection criteria were as follows: (population) noninfectious AU patients, adults; (intervention) immunomodulatory drugs (any dose, regimen, route of administration, duration of treatment); (outcome) control of inflammation, steroid-sparing effect, AU flares, adverse events, and so on; (study design) systematic literature reviews, randomized controlled trials, and observational studies. The study quality was assessed using the Jadad scale and according to The Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine (update 2009).
RESULTS
We included 13 studies of moderate-poor quality, with a mean duration from 5 months to 20 years, and number of AU patients ranging from 9 to 274. Patient's demographic and clinical characteristics were very heterogeneous. In most cases, uveitis anatomic classification criteria and outcomes definitions were unclear. Some of the studies only included AU patients with a systemic disease associated, mostly spondyloarthritis, others, mixed populations (idiopathic and systemic disease associated patients), and in some articles this data is not described. We found that methotrexate, cyclosporine A, azathioprine, adalimumab, and golimumab might prevent AU flares, improve ocular inflammation and visual acuity, and decrease systemic steroids doses.
CONCLUSIONS
Although there is a lack of robust evidence, methotrexate, cyclosporine A, azathioprine, adalimumab, and golimumab might be effective in AU patients.
Topics: Adalimumab; Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Azathioprine; Cyclosporine; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Male; Methotrexate; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome; Uveitis, Anterior
PubMed: 29049193
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000008045 -
Medicine Oct 2017To investigate the clinical and MRI characteristics of spinal cord nerve Behçet's disease. (Review)
Review
RATIONAL
To investigate the clinical and MRI characteristics of spinal cord nerve Behçet's disease.
PATIENT CONCERNS
One patient with spinal cord nerve Behçet's disease was admitted to our hospital at October 20, 2015.
DIAGNOSE
Spinal cord nerve Behçet's disease.
INTERVENTIONS
Retrospective analysis was performed on such case as well as 16 cases of spinal cord nerve Behçet's disease reported in China or abroad.
OUTCOMES
Seventeen cases of spinal cord type of neuro Behçet's disease include 13 men and 4 women, with an average age of onset of 34.8 years old. The mean time from Behçet's disease symptoms to spinal cord involvement were 10.8 years. The initial symptom in one case was spinal cord injury, and another 4 cases had a recurrence course. The most common performance of spinal cord injury was sensory disturbance (82.4%), following by weakness (76.5%), sphincter or sexual dysfunction (58.8%), and pain in back, backside of neck or lower chest (29.4%). The number of cells was slightly increased or the protein level was increased in cerebrospinal fluid test. And the water channel protein antibody and oligoclonal band of serum levels were all negative. The spinal cord injury involved more than 3 vertebral bodies in 10 cases, and involved more than half of spinal cord in sagittal plane in 8 cases. In acute stage, shock therapy with large dose of glucocorticoid was generally applied both in China and abroad.
LESSONS
The clinical features of spinal cord nerve Behçet's disease were various, making it easily misdiagnosed. Longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis performs as a characteristic manifestation.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Behcet Syndrome; China; Diagnostic Errors; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Spinal Cord; Spinal Cord Diseases; Spinal Cord Injuries; Young Adult
PubMed: 28984755
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007958 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... May 2016Acute toxoplasma retinochoroiditis causes transient symptoms of ocular discomfort and may lead to permanent visual loss. Antibiotic treatment aims primarily to reduce... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Acute toxoplasma retinochoroiditis causes transient symptoms of ocular discomfort and may lead to permanent visual loss. Antibiotic treatment aims primarily to reduce the risk of permanent visual loss, recurrent retinochoroiditis, and the severity and duration of acute symptoms. There is uncertainty about the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment.
OBJECTIVES
To compare the effects of antibiotic treatment versus placebo or no treatment for toxoplasma retinochoroiditis.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision group Trials Register) (2016, Issue 1), Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE Daily, Ovid OLDMEDLINE (January 1946 to February 2016), EMBASE (January 1980 to February 2016), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature Database (LILACS) (January 1982 to February 2016), the ISRCTN registry (www.isrctn.com/editAdvancedSearch), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov), and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en). We did not use any date or language restrictions in the electronic searches for trials. We last searched the electronic databases on 22 February 2016. We searched the reference lists of identified articles and contacted pharmaceutical companies for unpublished trials.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials that compared any antibiotic treatment against placebo or no treatment. We excluded trials that included immunocompromised participants. We considered any antibiotic treatment known to be active against Toxoplasma gondii. Antibiotic treatment could be given in any dose orally, by intramuscular injection, by intravenous infusion, or by intravitreal injection.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
The primary outcomes for this review were visual acuity at least three months after treatment and risk of recurrent retinochoroiditis. Secondary outcomes were improvement in symptoms and signs of intraocular inflammation, size of lesion, and adverse events. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane.
MAIN RESULTS
Four trials that randomised a total of 268 participants met the inclusion criteria. In all four studies antibiotic was administered orally.One study conducted in Brazil in both adults and children compared trimethoprim-sulfamexacocol over 20 months to no treatment and was judged to be at high risk of performance, detection, and attrition bias. The other three studies compared antibiotic treatment to placebo. We judged these three studies to be at a mixture of low or unclear risk of bias due to poor reporting. One study conducted in the US in adults studied pyrimethamine-trisulfapyrimidine for eight weeks; one study conducted in the UK in children and adults evaluated pyrimethamine for four weeks; and one study conducted in Brazil in adults investigated trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 12 months. In the last study, all participants had active retinochoroiditis and were treated with antibiotics for 45 days prior to randomisation to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus placebo.Only the study in Brazil of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole over 12 months, in participants with healed lesions, reported the effect of treatment on visual acuity. People treated with antibiotics may have a similar change in visual acuity compared with people treated with placebo at one year (mean difference -1.00 letters, 95% confidence interval (CI) -7.93 to 5.93 letters; 93 participants; low-quality evidence).Treatment with antibiotics probably reduces the risk of recurrent retinochoroiditis compared with placebo (risk ratio (RR) 0.26, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.63; 227 participants; 3 studies; I(2) = 0%; moderate-quality evidence); similar results were seen for acute and chronic retinochoroiditis.The UK study of pyrimethamine for four weeks reported an improvement in intraocular inflammation in treated compared with control participants (RR 1.76, 95% CI 0.98 to 3.19; 29 participants; low-quality evidence). The study in Brazil of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 12 months stated that the severity of inflammation was higher in the comparator group when compared to the antibiotic-treated group but did not provide further details. In the US study of pyrimethamine-trisulfapyrimidine for eight weeks intraocular inflammation had almost completely resolved by eight weeks in all participants, however in this study all participants received steroid treatment.Two studies (UK and US studies) reported an increased risk of adverse events in treated participants. These were a fall in haemoglobin, leucocyte, and platelet count, nausea, loss of appetite, rash, and arthralgia.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with antibiotics probably reduces the risk of recurrent toxoplasma retinochoroiditis, but there is currently no good evidence that this leads to better visual outcomes. However, absence of evidence of effect is not the same as evidence of no effect. Further trials of people with acute and chronic toxoplasma retinochoroiditis affecting any part of the retina are required to determine the effects of antibiotic treatment on visual outcomes.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Chorioretinitis; Drug Combinations; Humans; Pyrimethamine; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recurrence; Secondary Prevention; Sulfadiazine; Sulfamerazine; Sulfamethazine; Toxoplasmosis, Ocular; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Visual Acuity; Watchful Waiting
PubMed: 27198629
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002218.pub2 -
International Braz J Urol : Official... 2016Improved targeted therapies for rheumatic diseases were developed recently resulting in a better prognosis for affected patients. Nowadays, patients are living longer... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Improved targeted therapies for rheumatic diseases were developed recently resulting in a better prognosis for affected patients. Nowadays, patients are living longer and with improved quality of life, including fertility potential. These patients are affected by impaired reproductive function and the causes are often multifactorial related to particularities of each disease. This review highlights how rheumatic diseases and their management affect testicular function and male fertility.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic review of literature of all published data after 1970 was conducted. Data was collected about fertility abnormalities in male patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, ankylosing spondylitis, Behçet disease and gout. Two independent researchers carried out the search in online databases.
RESULTS
A total of 19 articles were included addressing the following diseases: 7 systemic lupus erythematosus, 6 Behçet disease, 4 ankylosing spondylitis, 2 rheumatoid arthritis, 2 dermatomyositis and one gout. Systemic lupus erythematosus clearly affects gonadal function impairing spermatogenesis mainly due to antisperm antibodies and cyclophosphamide therapy. Behçet disease, gout and ankylosing spondylitis patients, including those under anti-TNF therapy in the latter disease, do not seem to have reduced fertility whereas in dermatomyositis, the fertility potential is hampered by disease activity and by alkylating agents. Data regarding rheumatoid arthritis is scarce, gonadal dysfunction observed as consequence of disease activity and antisperm antibodies.
CONCLUSIONS
Reduced fertility potential is not uncommon. Its frequency and severity vary among the different rheumatic diseases. Permanent infertility is rare and often associated with alkylating agent therapy.
Topics: Alkylating Agents; Behcet Syndrome; Dermatomyositis; Gout; Humans; Infertility, Male; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Male; Rheumatic Diseases; Spondylitis, Ankylosing
PubMed: 27120778
DOI: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2014.0595 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2016The relationships between polymorphisms of the trans-membrane(TM) region located in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A (MICA) and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The relationships between polymorphisms of the trans-membrane(TM) region located in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A (MICA) and Behcet's disease (BD) have been discussed previously, however, the results were contradictory. In this study, we thoroughly assess whether MICA-TM gene variants are associated with BD by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis. Our study focused on the effects of polymorphisms of MICA-A4, A5, A5.1, A6, and A9 from the included articles. Sixteen previous original publications representing 1,555 BD patients and 2,086 unrelated healthy controls analyzed the association of BD with MICA-TM gene polymorphisms. For the five alleles, MICA-A6 showed a strongly positive correlation with BD patients and could be viewed as an increased risk factor of BD (OR = 2.34, 95%CI: 2.02-2.70). Furthermore, MICA-A4, A5, A5.1, and A9 exhibited negative associations with BD (OR = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.58-0.86; OR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.63-0.90; OR = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.44-0.91; OR = 0.70, 95%CI: 0.58-0.84, respectively). Our meta-analysis confirmed MICA-A6 could be responsible for BD in three ethnic regions and should probably be treated as a risk factor for BD. MICA-A4, A5, A5.1, and A9 could be regarded as protective factors, especially in the Middle East and East Asia.
Topics: Alleles; Behcet Syndrome; Ethnicity; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; Humans; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Risk Factors
PubMed: 26875668
DOI: 10.1038/srep21033 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Feb 2016Uveitis is a term used to describe a heterogeneous group of intraocular inflammatory diseases of the anterior, intermediate, and posterior uveal tract (iris, ciliary... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Uveitis is a term used to describe a heterogeneous group of intraocular inflammatory diseases of the anterior, intermediate, and posterior uveal tract (iris, ciliary body, choroid). Uveitis is the fifth most common cause of vision loss in high-income countries, accounting for 5% to 20% of legal blindness, with the highest incidence of disease in the working-age population.Corticosteroids are the mainstay of acute treatment for all anatomical subtypes of non-infectious uveitis and can be administered orally, topically with drops or ointments, by periocular (around the eye) or intravitreal (inside the eye) injection, or by surgical implantation.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the efficacy and safety of steroid implants in people with chronic non-infectious posterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, and panuveitis.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register) (Issue 10, 2015), Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE Daily, Ovid OLDMEDLINE (January 1946 to November 2015), EMBASE (January 1980 to November 2015), PubMed (1948 to November 2015), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature Database (LILACS) (1982 to November 2015), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) (www.controlled-trials.com) (last searched 15 April 2013), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov), and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en). We did not use any date or language restrictions in the electronic search for studies. We last searched the electronic databases on 6 November 2015.We also searched reference lists of included study reports, citation databases, and abstracts and clinical study presentations from professional meetings.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomized controlled trials comparing either fluocinolone acetonide (FA) or dexamethasone intravitreal implants with standard-of-care therapy with at least six months of follow-up after treatment. We included studies that enrolled participants of all ages who had chronic non-infectious posterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, or panuveitis with vision that was better than hand-motion.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently reviewed studies for inclusion. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias for each study.
MAIN RESULTS
We included data from two studies (619 eyes of 401 participants) that compared FA implants with standard-of-care therapy. Both studies used similar standard-of-care therapy that included administration of prednisolone and, if needed, immunosuppressive agents. The studies included participants from Australia, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We assessed both studies at high risk of performance and detection bias.Only one study reported our primary outcome, recurrence of uveitis at any point during the study through 24 months. The evidence, judged as moderate-quality, showed that a FA implant probably prevents recurrence of uveitis compared with standard-of-care therapy (risk ratio (RR) 0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 to 0.59; 132 eyes). Both studies reported safety outcomes, and moderate-quality evidence showed increased risks of needing cataract surgery (RR 2.98, 95% CI 2.33 to 3.79; 371 eyes) and surgery to lower intraocular pressure (RR 7.48, 95% CI 3.94 to 14.19; 599 eyes) in the implant group compared with standard-of-care therapy through two years of follow-up. No studies compared dexamethasone implants with standard-of-care therapy.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
After considering both benefits and harms reported from two studies in which corticosteroids implants were compared with standard-of-care therapy, we are unable to conclude that the implants are superior to traditional systemic therapy for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis. These studies exhibited heterogeneity in design and outcomes that measured efficacy. Pooled findings regarding safety outcomes suggest increased risks of post-implant surgery for cataract and high intraocular pressure compared with standard-of-care therapy.
Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Chronic Disease; Drug Implants; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Prednisolone; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recurrence; Standard of Care; Uveitis
PubMed: 26866343
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010469.pub2 -
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases Aug 2015Uveitis describes a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by intraocular inflammation. Since most of the sight-threatening forms of uveitis are individually... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Uveitis describes a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by intraocular inflammation. Since most of the sight-threatening forms of uveitis are individually rare, there has been an increasing tendency for clinical trials to group distinct uveitis syndromes together despite clear variations in phenotype which may reflect real aetiological and pathogenetic differences. Furthermore this grouping of distinct syndromes, and the range of manifestations within each uveitis syndrome, leads to a wide range of possible outcome measures. In this study we wished to review the degree of consensus or otherwise in the choice of primary outcome measures for registered clinical trials related to uveitis.
METHODS
Systematic review of data provided in clinical trial registries describing clinical trials dealing with medical treatment of intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis through 01 October 2013. We reviewed 15 on-line clinical trial registries approved by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. We identified all that met the following inclusion criteria: prospective, interventional design; target populations with intermediate, posterior or panuveitis; and one or more pre-specified outcome measures that were related to uveitis. Primary outcome measures were classified in terms of type (efficacy or safety or both; single, composite, or multiple); dimension (disease activity, disease damage, measured or patient-reported visual function); and domain (the specific study variable being measured).
RESULTS
Of 195 registered uveitis studies, we identified 104 clinical trials that met inclusion criteria. There were 14 different domains used as primary outcome measures. Among clinical trials that utilized primary outcome measures of treatment efficacy (n = 94), 70 (74 %) used a measure of disease activity (vitreous haze in 40/70 [57 %]; macular oedema in 19/70 [27 %]) and 49 (70 %) used a measure of visual function (visual acuity in all cases). Multiple primary outcome measures were used in 23 (22 %) of 104 clinical trials. With regard to quality, in 12 (12 %) of 104 clinical trials, outcome measures were poorly defined. No clinical trial utilized a patient-reported study variable as primary outcome measure.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review highlights the heterogeneity of outcome measures used in recent clinical trials for intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis. Current designs prioritize clinician-observed measures of disease activity and measurement of visual function as outcome measures. This apparent lack of consensus regarding outcome measures for the study of uveitis is a concern, as it prevents comparison of studies and meta-analyses, and weakens the evidence available to stake-holders, from patients to clinicians to regulators, regarding the efficacy and value of a given treatment.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Uveitis
PubMed: 26286265
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-015-0318-6