Murat Oklar, Burak Tanyıldız, Nilüfer Zorlutuna Kaymak, Ezgi Tanyeri Kılınç, Ahmet Kasım Kılıç, Mehmet Engin Tezcan
In this small, heterogeneous cohort, RTX was associated with marked corticosteroid sparing and favourable responses in all three subtypes. Both demyelinating cases responded, a two-patient observation relevant where anti-TNF is contraindicated. Absent visual gain likely reflects pre-existing damage. Because most patients continued an antimetabolite with corticosteroid premedication, the independent effect of RTX cannot be isolated.
PURPOSE: To describe outcomes and safety of rituximab (RTX) in refractory non-infectious uveitis, scleritis, and idiopathic orbital inflammatory syndrome (IOIS).
METHODS: Single-centre retrospective series of eleven consecutive patients (21 eyes; one unilateral) treated with intravenous RTX (1,000 mg twice, 14 days apart, then six-monthly maintenance) between January 2023 and May 2026. Response was graded by at least two of three uveitis specialists.
RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 19.0 months (3.9 cycles). Diagnoses were granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; n = 3, PR3-ANCA positive), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (n = 2), demyelinating disease-associated uveitis (n = 2), and one each of IOIS, presumed juvenile sarcoidosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Visual acuity was unchanged (logMAR 0.51 to 0.42; p = 0.272). Mean daily prednisolone-equivalent dose fell from 28.0 to 3.5 mg (87.7% relative reduction; p = 0.002). Modified McCluskey scores fell from 14.25 to 1.50 (n = 4); PR3-ANCA titres declined in all three GPA patients. Ten of eleven patients (90.9%) responded (five complete, five partial), including nine of ten (90.0%) with active ocular inflammation at initiation. The non-responder had sclerosing orbital disease. One herpes zoster reactivation occurred. .
CONCLUSIONS: In this small, heterogeneous cohort, RTX was associated with marked corticosteroid sparing and favourable responses in all three subtypes. Both demyelinating cases responded, a two-patient observation relevant where anti-TNF is contraindicated. Absent visual gain likely reflects pre-existing damage. Because most patients continued an antimetabolite with corticosteroid premedication, the independent effect of RTX cannot be isolated.