Bom et al published an article in Ocular Immunology and Inflammation entitled “Use of methotrexate in the management of sight-threatening uveitis” [1]. The authors investigated the use of methotrexate as an alternative medication to systemic corticosteroids in patients with uveitis. They acknowledged that long-term therapy with high dose corticosteroids is associated with major side effects. Hence, alternative medications need to be employed in patients with recurrent or chronic uveitis. The authors report on their experience with use of methotrexate in 11 patients with long-standing uveitis who were treated with systemic corticosteroids prior to initiation of methotrexate. Analysis of data showed that adding methotrexate to treatment allowed control of uveitis with a reduction of the corticosteroid dose in more than 50% of cases and decreased the number of disease relapses in 45%. The authors concluded that methotrexate is useful in treatment of uveitis.
Reference: 1. Bom S, Zamiri P, Lightman S: Use of methotrexate in the management of sight-threatening uveitis. Ocular Immunology and Inflammation 2001; 9:35-40.
