Metoprolol responding uveitis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Noninfectious uveitis is usually managed by topical and systemic corticosteroids and in refractory cases by immunosuppressive drugs. OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient with noninfectious anterior and posterior uveitis, refractory to corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive therapy, which responded to systemic metoprolol. PATIENT AND METHODS: A 49-year-old patient was treated for 3 years with topical and systemic corticosteroids and systemic cyclosporin A for a bilateral anterior and posterior uveitis of unknown origin. The treatment did not result in resolution of the uveitis. A bilateral uveitic glaucoma developed and necessitated neodymium : YAG laser iridotomies and antiglaucoma medications. A systemic beta-blocker, metoprolol tartrate 50 mg b.i.d., was administered for palpitations because of idiopatic paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and short ventricular tachycardia. RESULTS: Following administration of metoprolol tartrate, the bilateral uveitis resolved. The corticosteroids and the cyclosporin A were withdrawn after 6 weeks without any recurrence. A trial to discontinue metoprolol after 6 months resulted in flare-up of the disease and only following its readministration the inflammation resolved. The patient is currently under metoprolol for a year without flare-ups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of metoprolol tartrate in this patient resulted in resolution of bilateral noninfectious uveitis. This is the first report of non-antiinfectious, antiinflammatory, or immunosuppressive drug effective for uveitis. It is possible that a subgroup of resistant uveitis may respond to drugs other than the traditional drugs, such as metoprolol, and that other forms of uveitis of unidentified origin exist.