Cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors in the treatment of chronic non-infectious, non-necrotizing scleritis and episcleritis.

Anton M Kolomeyer, Ashwinee Ragam, Kushyup Shah, Brian K Do, Vinnie P Shah, David S Chu

The Institute of Ophthalmolgy and Visual Science, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101-1709, USA.

Ocular immunology and inflammation 2012 Aug

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To evaluate the use of selective vs. non-selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors (COXIs) for the treatment of chronic non-infectious, non-necrotizing scleritis and episcleritis. Sixty-nine patients with scleritis and episcleritis treated for ≥2 months with COXIs were included. Outcome measures were rates of inflammation control, corticosteroid sparing, and COXI discontinuation, as well as side effects. Initial inflammation control was achieved in 78-81% of scleritis patients and 73-80% episcleritis patients on COXIs (p > .05). Rates of steroid sparing after 4-24 months of consecutive treatment were similar. Gastrointestinal side effects were observed in 1 (2.7%) patient on selective vs. 3 (9.4%) patients on non-selective COXIs (p = .33). Overall discontinuation rate was 6/37 (16%) for selective vs. 7/32 (22%) for non-selective COXIs (p = .76). Selective vs. non-selective COXIs were equally efficacious for the treatment of chronic non-infectious, non-necrotizing scleritis and episcleritis. Prospective studies to elucidate potential differences in side effect profiles may be warranted.

Citation

Anton M Kolomeyer, Ashwinee Ragam, Kushyup Shah, Brian K Do, Vinnie P Shah, David S Chu. Cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors in the treatment of chronic non-infectious, non-necrotizing scleritis and episcleritis. Ocular immunology and inflammation. 2012 Aug;20(4):293-9