Management of Uveitis Patients on Anti-TNF Agents Who Develop Demyelinating Disease – A Case Series

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (Anti-TNF) agents have proven beneficial for the treatment of chronic non-infectious uveitis, yet rare neurological complications and demyelinating disease can occur with their use. Management of uveitis and neurological disease after developing these rare complications is not well understood. We sought to identify these specific cases and their outcomes through a retrospective observational case series.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) chart review of 394 non-infectious uveitis patients on anti-TNF therapy focused on identifying patients seen by uveitis specialists at a single institution who were on anti-TNF therapy and had developed neurological symptoms. Cases were reviewed for subsequent management and outcomes of both their neurologic and ocular inflammatory disease.

Five (5) patients were included following complaints of neurological symptoms while on anti-TNF therapy. Subsequent demyelinating diagnosis, acute treatment, and long-term course were described. All five patients continue to be inactive at around three years of anti-TNF discontinuation.

Unidentified rare neurological symptoms and demyelinating disease associated with the use of anti-TNF agents can be detrimental to patient treatment outcomes. Emphasis is given on possible avoidance and early identification of exacerbating underlying disease through a detailed neurologic history and use of imaging when suspicion is high. Patients may have no evidence of higher neurological risk prior to starting an anti-TNF treatment. Discontinuation of an anti-TNF agent and subsequent control of disease is possible with alternative immunosuppressive treatments.