Background:
- Autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) is an inflammatory condition in which the patient s own
immune system is attacking his or her eyes and causing vision loss. Patients with AIR
are generally treated with immunosuppressive agents to treat the eye inflammation;
however, the standard treatment for this disease is still being developed.
- Rituximab, an immunosuppressive agent, is a monoclonal antibody that is directed against
a part of the immune system that may be an important cause of AIR. Rituximab is approved
for the treatment of non-Hodgkin s lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis, but is not
approved for the treatment of AIR. Researchers are interested in determining whether
rituximab may be used to treat AIR.
Objectives:
- To to investigate the safety, tolerability and possible efficacy of rituximab as a
treatment for AIR.
Eligibility:
- Individuals at least 18 years of age who have been diagnosed with AIR and have visual
acuity of 20/200 or better in at least one eye.
Design:
- Before the start of the study, participants will be screened with a medical history,
immunization records, a series of eye examinations, a chest X-ray, an electrocardiogram,
and blood tests.
- Participants will receive a maximum of two cycles of rituximab during the 18-month
study. Each cycle will involve two separate intravenous infusions of rituximab given 2
weeks apart.
- Participants will return to the clinic 6 weeks after the first cycle of rituximab for a
safety visit, which will include a routine eye and physical examinations. They will also
provide blood and other samples for study.
- After the safety visit, participants will return every 3 months for follow-up visits.
- At the 6-month visit, participants who have successfully or partially responded to
rituximab will receive another cycle of treatment. Those who do not respond will not
receive another cycle, but will continue to be monitored until the end of the study.