Does the beneficial effect of mycophenolate mofetil persist long-term in the treatment of non-infectious uveitis?

Aim
The aim of the study involved the assessment of long-term effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil treatment in patients with chronic non-infectious uveitis.

Material and methods
A retrospective analysis included case histories of 19 patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil with a follow-up period of at least 36 months. We assessed the possibility of reducing the dose of prednisolone to a dose equal to or lower than 10 mg daily and achieving a remission after mycophenolate mofetil discontinuation. Moreover, the change in the best corrected visual acuity was evaluated at baseline and at the end of the follow-up.

Results
Nineteen patients were included in the study. The majority of them were women (18/19; 95%). The average age when immunosuppressive therapy was introduced was 44 years (ranging from 21 to 75 years). The therapeutic success of glucocorticosteroid reduction, defined as the absence of symptoms of inflammation at the dose of prednisolone equal to or lower than 10 mg per day, recorded during at least two follow-up visits planned 28 days apart after one year of therapy was obtained in 13 out of 16 patients (81%), and after two years – in 14 out of 16 patients (87%). After the completion of the therapy the recurrence was noted in 7 patients on average after a year. The total of 20 out of 31 eyes (64%) achieved vision stabilization, an improvement occurred in eight eyes (26%) and deterioration in three (10%).

Conclusions
Data obtained from this study confirm the long-term effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of non-infectious uveitis.