Severe bilateral conjunctival inflammation following rituximab therapy succesfully treated with topical tacrolimus

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: Dry Eye and Inflammation

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/09/2015 | 15:00-16:30

Paper Time: 15:50

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 3

First Author: : S.Martin-Nalda SPAIN

Co Author(s): :    M. Calatayud   J. Puig-Galy   L. Bisbe   L. De Nicola   A. Calvo   J. Rigo

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To describe two cases of severe bilateral chronic papillary conjunctivitis following rituximab therapy for lymphoma successfully treated with topical tacrolimus

Setting:

Cornea and ocular surface unit, Vall d Hebron Hospitals, Barcelona, Spain

Methods:

Two patients were referred to our hospital because of severe bilateral chronic papillary conjunctivitis following rituximab treatment for non–Hodgkin´s lymphoma resistant to topical steroids.

Results:

After a few weeks of rituximab therapy the patients had severe conjunctival hyperemia resistant to topical treatment included steroids. A few months after cessation of rituximab treatment the bilateral conjunctivitis didn´t improve. At that moment we decided to start with topical tacrolimus and in a few days the improvement was dramatic.

Conclusions:

Adverse effects of rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) such as fever, hypotension, tachycardia and urticaria have been described but to our knowledge chronic conjunctivitis without resolution after discontinuation of the treatment has not been described before. We decided to start with topical tacrolimus not only for its effect as immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory agent but also because the conjunctival inflammation was refractory to conventional treatment with steroids. Topical tacrolimus has been shown effective in treating severe conjunctival inflammation following rituximab therapy.

Financial Interest:

NONE