Transplant Rejection Drug Holds Promise For Inflammatory Eye Disease

"The drug seemed to be effective even in patients who had failedtreatment from other immunosuppressive drugs," says lead authorJennifer E. Thorne, M.D., an assistant professor of ophthalmology.

Physicians gave the drug to 84 patients, of whom 61 percent had uveitis(intraocular inflammation), 17 percent had scleritis (inflammation ofthe outer wall of the eye), 11 percent had mucous membrane pemphigoid(a condition causing scarring of the eyelids) and 11 percent hadinflammation behind the eye or in other areas. Patients took two pillseach morning and two each evening, for a total dose of 2 grams daily.Thirty-six patients (43 percent) already had been treated with at leastone other immunosuppressive drug.

Study results, published in the August issue of the journalOphthalmology, showed that 81 patients (97 percent) had control oftheir ocular inflammation after one month of treatment. Eighty-twopercent of patients had control of their inflammation and were able totaper their dose of the steroid prednisone to 10 or fewer milligramsdaily.

Only seven patients discontinued the drug due to side effects such asstomach upset or mild diarrhea. In most cases, Thorne says, loweringthe dose of medication can reduce side effects. The drug dosage oftencan then be increased without the side effects returning.