[Recurrent uveitis and therapy with monoclonal antibody (daclizumab)].
PURPOSE: Assess the efficacy of monoclonal antibody (daclizumab) therapy in the treatment of patients with non-infectious uveitis who do not respond to other immunosuppressive agents. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Ten patients with non-infectious intermediate and posterior uveitis were treated with intravenous daclizumab (humanized anti-IL-2 receptor monoclonal antibody) monthly for two years. RESULTS: 70% of the patients have had some improvement in their inflammatory activity being maintained without recurrence. 10% of the patients improved their visual acuity in two lines and the macular edema decreased. 20% of the patients continued to have recurrences, but not worse than the year before. 40% of the patients gave up having the treatment with corticosteroids and 30% with minimum dose (5 mg). No secondary effects were noted during the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Daclizumab is effective and safe for long-term use in the treatment of uveitis which cannot be kept under control by other treatments. In time, it allows the dose of corticosteroids to be decreased or even discontinued.