Real-World Efficacy and Safety of Escalation to Weekly Adalimumab for Chronic Non-Infectious Uveitis: A Multicenter Study Involving Pediatric and Adult Patients.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of weekly adalimumab (ADA) treatment in non-infectious uveitis (NIU) patients, including both pediatric and adult populations, and identify factors influencing treatment efficacy.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study at two hospitals in Türkiye included 51 NIU patients (29 children, 22 adults) who escalated from bi-weekly to weekly ADA due to inadequate disease control. Data on six clinical parameters (anterior chamber reaction, vitreous haze, visual acuity, central macular thickness [CMT], prednisone use, uveitis flare-up frequency), adverse effects, and treatment-related factors were collected. Statistical analyses involved non-parametric tests and regression models.

Results: Weekly ADA led to clinical improvement in 88.2% of patients, with uveitis control achieved in 76.4% by the 6th month. Escalation to weekly dosing significantly improved all clinical parameters compared to the 6-month period before ADA initiation (p < 0.001). Patients on combined weekly ADA and DMARD therapy experienced fewer uveitis attacks (B = - 2.272, 95% CI = [-4.289, -0.254], p = 0.028). Starting ADA as first-line treatment reduced uveitis attacks (p = 0.002) and increased the likelihood of inactive uveitis (OR = 10.349, 95% CI = [1.379, 77.687], p = 0.023). Patients resistant to multiple biologics had worse preADA visual acuity (p = 0.011).

Conclusion: Weekly ADA is effective and safe for controlling NIU when bi-weekly dosing is insufficient. Combining ADA with DMARDs enhances outcomes and reduce uveitis attacks. Poor preADA visual acuity may suggest resistance to biologics. Prospective studies should validate these findings, explore anti-ADA antibody development, and assess how DMARD addition affects immunological parameters and treatment efficacy.