Adalimumab significantly reduces the recurrence rate of anterior uveitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether use of adalimumab decreases the frequency of attacks of anterior uveitis (AU) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS: Consecutive patients with AS, visiting an outpatient clinic and treated for at least 12 weeks with adalimumab, were enrolled. The number of attacks of AU in the year before start and during treatment were assessed by patient history and ophthalmological controls.

RESULTS: In the 77 patients a total of 52 AU attacks occurred in the year before baseline (68 attacks per 100 patient-yrs), whereas during adalimumab treatment 19 attacks were seen (14 per 100 patient-yrs; reduction rate 80%). Twenty-six patients with AU in the year before start of adalimumab treatment had recurrent attacks, with a median number of 2.0 AU attacks per year [interquartile range (IQR) 1.00-3.00], whereas during treatment this decreased to 10 patients with a median number of 0.56 attacks per year (IQR 0.30-0.75). Hence, the number of attacks per year decreased by 72% (p = 0.000).

CONCLUSION: In patients with AS, a significant reduction in the number of AU attacks, as well as in the number of attacks per patient, was observed during adalimumab treatment.