Infliximab for Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis Treatment

Biologic agents such as anti-TNFα have been employed in treatment paradigms for ocular inflammation. Peripheral corneal ulceration (PUK) is a devastating disorder consisting of a crescent-shaped area of destructive inflammation at the margin of the corneal stroma. It is associated with an epithelial defect, the presence of stromal inflammatory cells, and progressive stromal degradation and thinning, leading to ocular perforation and devastating visual loss. Macroulcerative PUK is usually a local manifestation of a systemic vasculitis. In many cases, the disease may be resistant to high doses of systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Chimeric anti-TNFα has been employed when all other treatments have failed. Isolated cases and short series of cases have been reported. This paper summarizes the available reports on the use, efficacy, and safety of infliximab in the treatment of PUK.