Infliximab to Treat Non-Infectious Scleritis

Brief summary

Reproduced verbatim from the official ClinicalTrials.gov record. Not medical advice.

This small, preliminary study will examine whether multiple infusions of infliximab (Remicade® (Registered Trademark)) can control inflammation in patients with active scleritis. The sclera is the tough white outer coat enclosing the eyeball. Infliximab is a combination of part human and part mouse proteins that block a natural body protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF). TNF appears to be involved in scleritis, and stopping its action may help reduce the inflammation in the disease. The drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Patients 18 years of age or older with active non-infectious scleritis may be eligible for this study. Participants will undergo the following tests and procedures: * Medical history and physical examination. * Eye examination, including a vision test and examination of the retina (back part of the eye) and of the sclera and its blood vessels. * Questionnaire about vision and daily activities. * Tuberculin skin test. * Pregnancy test: Women who can have children are tested for pregnancy at study weeks 0, 14, 30, 38, and 46. * Infliximab treatment: Infliximab is infused over a 2-hour period through a needle in a vein, usually in the arm. The patient's vital signs are checked before the patient begins each infusion starts and again before leaving the clinic. After the first two infusions, if the disease remains quiet, other scleritis medications will be attempted to be reduced to half the original dose over 8 to 12 weeks and possibly to nothing if the patient continues to do well. Patients receive a maximum of 9 infusions over a 30-week period. * Blood draws: About 4 tablespoons of blood are drawn at each visit to test for the number and types of cells in the blood and to check for signs of inflammation and side effects of the study medicine. Patients are seen in the NEI clinic for infusions and to check the response to therapy. This includes 13 clinic visits over 46 weeks, as follows: every 2 weeks for the first 2 weeks, every 4 weeks thereafter for a total of 30 weeks for infusions, and then every 4 weeks for 16 additional weeks. Patients may stop therapy if their scleritis is not controlled 10 weeks into the study period; if they develop a flare of inflammation after initial control of the active scleritis; if their vision loss is too large; or if their medications increase or other medicines are added to control the scleritis. Patients whose vision decreases minimally, stays the same, or improves may remain in the study.

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Last update posted Jul 1, 2017 · Synced Sep 6, 2026

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