Clinical Study
Eye (2009) 23, 1130–1133; doi:10.1038/eye.2008.198; published online 8 August 2008
Methotrexate: an option for preventing the recurrence of acute anterior uveitis
S Muñoz-Fernández1, A M García-Aparicio2, M V Hidalgo3, M Platero4, A Schlincker3, M L Bascones4, M Pombo5, P Morente4, J Sanpedro2 and E Martín-Mola5
- 1Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Infanta Sofía, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain
- 2Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, Spain
- 3Ophthalmology Unit, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
- 4Ophthalmology Unit, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, Spain
- 5Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
Correspondence: S Muñoz-Fernández, Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Infanta Sofía, Avenida de Europa 34, 28702 San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34911914000; Fax: +34911915013; E-mail: santiago.munoz@salud.madrid.org
Received 1 November 2007; Revised 31 May 2008; Accepted 31 May 2008; Published online 8 August 2008.
Abstract
Aims
To evaluate the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) in preventing the recurrence of acute anterior uveitis (AAU).
Methods
This prospective, open, longitudinal study included patients from June 2002 to March 2005 who had either three or more episodes of AAU in the previous year, or a recurrence of AAU within 3 months before starting the trial. We excluded uveitis of infectious origin, masquerade syndromes, and patients with contraindications to MTX. The response criteria were defined as an absence of symptoms and the presence of a normal ophthalmologic examination. The study outcome compared the number of flare-ups of uveitis over an MTX-treated for 1 year to the number of flare-ups of the same group during the previous year without MTX.
Results
A total of 571 patients with uveitis were evaluated during the period of the study, and 10 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. One patient refused the treatment, and nine completed the study. The mean number of recurrences in the pre-MTX year was 3.4 (SD: 0.52), which was significantly reduced to 0.89 (SD: 1.17) in the year of treatment (P=0.011).
Conclusion
MTX treatment seems to reduce the number of flare-ups in patients with recurrent AAU.
Keywords:
anterior uveitis, uveitis, treatment, methotrexate
