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PURPOSE: Anti-TNF-α-induced lupus (ATIL) is a rare condition considered as a drug-induced lupus (DIL) in patients under anti-TNF-α therapies. Nowadays it is still unclear if ATIL is a classical DIL or represent a distinct syndrome. Some characteristics of DIL have been described specifically associated with patients with lupus-like syndrome receiving anti-TNF-α therapy: the severity of the disease, incidence/prevalence of dsDNA antibodies (anti-dsDNA) and hypocomplementaemia. The objective of this study is to describe the development of ATIL in patients with non-infectious uveitis in a single tertiary center. METHODS: Retrospective description of a case series. RESULTS: We describe three patients with noninfectious uveitis (NIU) of different etiologies who developed antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-dsDNA antibody positivity, arthritis and, in one case, skin lesions under adalimumab treatment. The condition resolved in all of them after adalimumab withdrawal. Corticosteroids were required in one patient, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in two patients, and hydroxychloroquine in one of them. None required another immunosuppressive drug. A subsequent control of the NIU could continue to be carried out without anti-TNF-α therapy in two patients and in the remaining a switch was made to another anti-TNF-α (golimumab). CONCLUSION: The current report describes three cases of ATIL in patients with different types of NIU which share some common features: ANA positivity, articular symptoms, and a temporal relationship between symptoms onset and anti-TNF-α treatment. A review of the literature and comparison with the few previous reported ATIL cases was conducted as well.
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INTRODUCTION:: To investigate the ocular surface changes occurring in eyes with recurrent pterygium post-operatively treated with 5-fluorouracil intralesional injections. METHODS:: Retrospective observational study of recurrent pterygium cases treated with weekly intralesional injections of 0.1 mL (5 mg) of 5-fluorouracil (10 injections). Impression cytology samples taken from the lesion, the healthy conjunctivae (inferior, superior, and contralateral to injury), and the cornea before and after treatment were analyzed. Clinical ocular characteristics (including Schirmer's test and break-up time) were evaluated during treatment. RESULTS:: A total of 15 eyes were treated, with the mean follow-up of 27 ± 8.7 months (mean ± standard deviation). Prior to treatment initiation, the ocular surface citology over the pterygium was found to be abnormal. No epithelial cells (27%) and a lower goblet cell density (73%) compared to the healthy conjunctivae (p < 0.01) were found. Squamous metaplasia was observed to some degree in the cornea (100%), pterygium (81%) and healthy conjunctivae (73%). Following treatment, pterygium composition had changed: epithelial cell number (100%) and goblet cell density (47%) had increased (p < 0.05). Goblet cell density was also increased in healthy conjunctivae (67%; p < 0.05). The degree of squamous metaplasia decreased in the cornea (67%), pterygium (45%), and healthy conjunctivae (60%; p < 0.05). No adverse effects were reported, recurrence progression was arrested, and conjunctival redness and dry-eye severity level were decreased in all cases (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION:: The cytology of ocular surface in recurrent pterygium is abnormal. After weekly intralesional 5-fluorouracil injections, it tends to normalize. The 5-fluorouracil compound is a safe and effective treatment to prevent pterygium recurrence.