Successful treatment of idiopathic retinal vasculitis with rituximab in two patients

Atitaya Apivatthakakul; Renee Liu; Lucia Sobrin

doi:10.1016/j.ajoc.2023.101844

Successful treatment of idiopathic retinal vasculitis with rituximab in two patients

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2023 Apr 12:30:101844. doi: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2023.101844. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Atitaya Apivatthakakul^{1

2}, Renee Liu¹, Lucia Sobrin¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
² Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai, Thailand.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe results of treatment of idiopathic retinal vasculitis with intravenous rituximab.

Observations: We present two patients with idiopathic retinal vasculitis who required steroid-sparing therapy and achieved steroid-free remission with intravenous rituximab. Rituximab was used as a first-line steroid-sparing agent after steroids in one patient and as a second-line steroid-sparing agent in the other patient. Both patients achieved steroid-free remission of disease with follow up of at least one year after rituximab initiation.

Conclusions and importance: Rituximab achieved steroid-free remission in two patients with idiopathic retinal vasculitis. It should be considered as a treatment option in these patients.

Keywords: Anti-CD20; Idiopathic retinal vasculitis; Immunosuppressive therapy; Rituximab.

Publication types

Case Reports