Background: the systemic steroids represent the first line treatment in the majority of the noninfectious uveitis, except some specific indications as the Behcet disease. Nevertheless, this treatment may be ineffective and immunosuppressive therapy is mandatory.
Purpose: to evaluate effectiveness and side effects of azathioprine (AZA) in corticosteroid resistant noninfectious uveitis (CRNIU).
Methods: This prospective study (2002- 2009), concerned 21 patients (mean age 37 years), 37 eyes, with CRNIU. Patients received oral AZA 2,5mg/kg/day, initiated in association with high dose steroids, with an end-point of 12 months. Response was defined as complete, partial response and failure, for each of the 3 following out-come measurements: improvement of BCVA, improvement of inflammation, steroids-sparing. Statistical analysis was considered significant if p value < 0,05.
Results: side effects occurred in 42,8% (9/21) of patients, in which 5/9 patients stopped the treatment. Regarding BCVA, complete success was observed in 62,5%, partial response in 20,9% , and failure in 16,6% of cases. Regarding inflammation, complete success was noted in 70,8%, partial response in 29,1% and failure in 16,6 % of cases. Complete response of steroid sparing was observed in 85,7% of cases without failure. Complete success of the 3 criteria was observed in 57,1% of patients / 62,5% of eyes. Cataract (p=0,013) and pallor of optic nerve head (p=0,013) were associated to poor visual prognosis, BCVA of 20/40 or more (p=0,003, RR=2,38)) and papilledema (p=0,022, RR=2) to good visual prognosis. BCVA of 20/200 or less (p=0,001) was associated to failure of AZA on inflammatory response.
Conclusion: AZA is safe and effective in corticosteroid-sparing and controlling inflammation in CRNIU. Its low cost and availability allow proposing it as a first-line option, especially when new biological treatments are difficult to obtain.