Uveitis medical therapy

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Uveitis Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Uveitis from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

X Ray

CT

MRI

Ultrasound

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Uveitis medical therapy On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Uveitis medical therapy

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Uveitis medical therapy

CDC on Uveitis medical therapy

Uveitis medical therapy in the news

Blogs on Uveitis medical therapy

Directions to Hospitals Treating Uveitis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Uveitis medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Faizan Sheraz, M.D. [2]

Overview

The mainstay of therapy for uveitis is steroids, either as topical eye drops or oral therapy with Prednisolone. Acyclovir is the drug of choice for empiric therapy in anterior uveitis. The treatment for intermediate and posterior uveitis generally depends on the underlying disease.[1]

Medical therapy

Uveitis is typically treated with glucocorticoids, either as topical eye drops (such as betamethasone, dexamethasone or prednisolone) or oral therapy with Prednisolone tablets. In addition topical cycloplegics, such as atropine or homatropine, may be used. If the uveitis is caused by a body-wide infection, treatment may involve antibiotics and powerful anti-inflammatory medicines corticosteroids. In some cases an injection of PSTTA can also be given to reduce the swelling of the eye.[2]

Antimetabolite medications, such as Methotrexate are often used for recalcitrant or more aggressive cases of uveitis. Experimental treatment with Infliximab infusions may prove helpful.

More specifically, the treatment regimen differs among the various forms of uveitis:

Anterior Uveitis

  • The mainstay of therapy for anterior uveitis is topical corticosteroid drops combined with cycloplegic drops.
  • In the case of infectious anterior uveitis, antimicrobial therapy is recommended.[1]

Antimicrobial regimens

  • Infectious uveitis
  • 1. Empiric antimicrobial therapy
  • Preferred regimen: Acyclovir 800 mg PO q5h for 7-10 days
  • Note: Long-term prophylactic acyclovir 400 mg PO bid may be beneficial in preventing recurrences of herpetic uveitis and development of complications.
  • 2. Pathogen-directed antimicrobial therapy
  • 2.1 Lyme uveitis

Intermediate and Posterior Uveitis

Treatment often depend on the underlying cause of the inflammation. If the cause is infectious, treatment must involve an anti-infective agent.

  • Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) due to Herpes simplex or Varicella zoster virus: intravenous acyclovir 10 mg/kg every 8 hours with normal renal function for 1 to 2 weeks followed by Valacyclovir or Famciclovir for 6 weeks to several months. In case of ARN due to CMV, IV Ganciclovir should replace Acyclovir.
  • Progressive outer retinal necrosis: prolonged intravenous antiviral agents, in addition to intravitreal injections with Foscarnet and Ganciclovir, and the initiation of HAART in HIV-positive patients.
  • Ocular syphilis: intravenous penicillin 4 million U every 4 hours for 10 to 14 days. Corticosteroids are given to decrease intraocular inflammation as a result of Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction
  • Ocular TB: treated with the same medications and duration of therapy as TB meningitis
  • Lyme uveitis:Preferred regimen: Ceftriaxone 2 g IV q24h for 14 days

If the cause is non-infectious, treatment is administered to reduce inflammation, often through the use of corticosteroids. Intermediate uveitis is often treated with steroid eye drops, whereas posterior uveitis would have to be treated with steroid pills, as eye drops and ointments cannot reach the back of the eye.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Mandell, Gerald L.; Bennett, John E. (John Eugene); Dolin, Raphael. (2010). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's principles and practice of infectious disease. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-443-06839-3.
  2. BNF 45 March 2003

Template:WH Template:WS