Second-line tocilizumab seen as effective in patients with JIA-associated uveitis

Tocilizumab therapy was effective in patients with severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis who previously failed conventional immunosuppressive drugs with at least one anti- tumor necrosis factor agent, according to this study.The researchers performed a multicenter study of 25 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis- associated uveitis who previously failed therapy with conventional immunosuppressive medications and anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha drugs, which included adalimumab (n = 24), etanercept (n = eight), infliximab (n = seven), abatacept (n = six), rituximab (n = two), anakinra (n = one) and golimumab (n = one). Of the patients, 21 were women and the mean age was 18.5 years. At onset, 22 patients had bilateral uveitis. In addition, 13 patients had cataracts; 12 had band keratopathy; 10 had synechiae; nine had cystoid macular edema (CME); seven had glaucoma and five had amblyopia. Patients received 8 mg of tocilizumab (Actemra, Genentech) every 4 weeks for 6 months. Median follow-up was 12 months.