Long-Term Outcome of Tofacitinib Treatment for Systemic Autoimmune Disease-Associated Refractory Scleritis

• Published in: Ocular immunology and inflammation p. 1
• Main Authors: Kim, Chung Young, Lee, Eun Bong, Youn Oh, Joo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 31.05.2024
• Subjects: Janus-associated kinase inhibitor; scleritis; systemic autoimmune disease; Anterior scleritis; tofacitinib
• ISSN: 1744-5078
• DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2024.2359001

To report the long-term outcome of three refractory anterior scleritis cases successfully treated with tofacitinib, a Janus-associated kinase inhibitor. Three patients with systemic autoimmune disease-associated anterior scleritis (two with rheumatoid arthritis and one with systemic lupus erythematosus), resistant to conventional immunomodulatory therapy, were subsequently treated with tofacitinib (10 mg/day). Tofacitinib resulted in complete resolution of scleritis in all patients. During the 39-78 months of follow-up, no recurrence of scleritis occurred, and no adverse effects associated with tofacitinib were noted. At the last follow-up, all patients were free of scleritis with two patients receiving tofacitinib monotherapy and one without. Tofacitinib can be a safe and effective treatment for noninfectious refractory scleritis, warranting further investigation in large clinical trials.