@article{51cae2ce954a41e9abd76ce81f609d22,
title = "Rituximab in the Treatment of Refractory Noninfectious Scleritis",
abstract = "Purpose: To describe the outcomes of the use of rituximab in the treatment of refractory noninfectious scleritis. Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: Review of the medical charts of patients with noninfectious scleritis refractory to conventional immunomodulatory therapy who were seen at the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution between 2005 and 2015. The primary outcome measure in this study was steroid-free remission. Secondary outcomes were favorable response (decrease in scleritis activity score) and decrease in steroid dependence. Results: There were 15 patients, with a mean follow-up duration of 34 months. Fourteen patients (93.3%) showed a clinical improvement, with 13 (86.6%) achieving a scleritis activity score of zero at 6 months. To date, 2 patients continue to enjoy durable drug-free remission (28 and 32 months follow-up). There was only 1 adverse effect recorded (infusion hypotension) requiring cessation of rituximab. Conclusion: Rituximab can be an effective treatment modality for recalcitrant noninfectious scleritis and, in some, can result in long-term durable drug-free remission.",
author = "Cao, {Jennifer H.} and Merih Oray and Lidia Cocho and Foster, {C. Stephen}",
note = "Funding Information: Funding/Support: Merih Oray has received a postdoctoral fellowship grant from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey. The organization had no role in the design or conduct of this research. Financial disclosures: C. Stephen Foster: Consultancies with Aldeyra Therapeutics (Lexington, MA), Bausch & Lomb Surgical, Inc (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), Eyegate Pharma (Waltham, MA), Novartis (Cambridge, MA), pSivida (Watertown, MA), and Xoma (Berkeley, CA); Grants or grants pending with Alcon (Aliso Viejo, CA), Aldeyra Therapeutics (Lexington, MA), Bausch & Lomb (Bridgewater, NJ), Clearside Biomedical (Alpharetta, GA), Domp{\'e} Pharmaceutical (Milan, Italy), Eyegate Pharma (Waltham, MA), Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (Dublin, Ireland), Novartis Pharmaceuticals (Cambridge, MA), pSivida (Watertown, MA), and Santen (Osaka, Japan); Payment for lectures including service on speaking bureaus: Alcon (Aliso Viejo, CA), Allergan (Dublin, Ireland); Stock or Stock Options: Eyegate Pharma (Waltham, MA). The following authors have no financial disclosures: Jennifer H. Cao, Merih Oray, and Lidia Cocho. All authors attest that they meet the current ICMJE criteria for authorship. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 Elsevier Inc.",
year = "2016",
month = apr,
doi = "10.1016/j.ajo.2015.12.032",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "164",
pages = "22--28",
journal = "American journal of ophthalmology",
issn = "0002-9394",
publisher = "Elsevier USA",
}