Rare Eye Retinal Disorder Treatment Success

Introduction

Patients with a rare, blinding eye disease saw their vision improve after treatment with drugs to suppress their immune systems, according to researchers at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Because autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) is difficult to diagnose, the biggest challenge now is to find biologic markers that identify patients who can benefit from treatment.

Main Digest

In a review of 30 patients with autoimmune retinopathy, 21 individuals showed improvement after receiving treatment with immuno-suppression therapy.

The study, reported in the April issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, is the largest review of AIR cases to date. Improvement was defined by several measures, including the ability to read a minimum of two additional lines on the standard eye chart or expansion of at least 25% in visual field size.

"The results challenge the commonly held belief that autoimmune retinopathy is un-treatable," says John R. Heckenlively, M.D., author of the report and an international expert on retinal dystrophies. In this disease, antibodies attack the retina, resulting in progressive vision loss and eventual blindness.

AIR is like other autoimmune diseases in which the immune system goes awry and begins to attack healthy tissue. The patients in the current study were treated with various combinations of immuno-suppression medications to counteract the unwanted auto-antibodies from the immune system.

"It is not easy to identify patients with AIR because the clinical symptoms are very similar to other diseases involving retinal degeneration," says Heckenlively. Typically these patients are diagnosed as having Retinitis Pigmentosa, a blinding eye disease for which there is no treatment. "When someone asks how to distinguish one group from the other," says Heckenlively, the answer often is "with difficulty."

"We do not yet have a single test to confirm a diagnosis of AIR," explains Heckenlively. "However most patients have characteristic symptoms and findings, as well as subtle abnormalities on electro-physiologic testing. All patients have anti-retinal antibodies on blood testing, but that finding alone is not diagnostic. The majority of cases have other family members with autoimmune disorders. A clear diagnosis of AIR relies on carefully weighing all these factors," he concludes.

Heckenlively observes that few reports on AIR treatment are available in scientific publications, due largely to the difficulty in establishing the diagnosis.

"It is also possible that many patients are under-treated because we do not have good markers to evaluate treatment effects," observes Heckenlively. "Now that we have evidence that immuno-suppressant therapies work, we need further studies to evaluate which medications will be effective in treating autoimmune retinopathy."

Reference:

This work was supported in part by Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Reference: Archives of Ophthalmology Vol. 124, No. 4, pp 390-397, Management of autoimmune retinopathies with immuno-suppression.

Authors: Henry A. Ferreyra, M.D., Thiran Jayasundera, M.D.; Naheed W. Khan Ph.D., Shirley He, Ph.D., Ying Lu, Ph.D., and John R. Heckenlively, M.D.

Attribution/Source(s):

This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Michigan Health System, and published on 2009/04/14 (Edit Update: 2018/03/15), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, University of Michigan Health System can be contacted at . NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

Related Publications▶ Share This Page

Page Information, Citing and Disclaimer

Disabled World is a comprehensive online resource that provides information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility issues. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.

Cite This Page (APA): University of Michigan Health System. (2009, April 14 - Last revised: 2018, March 15). Rare Eye Retinal Disorder Treatment Success. Disabled World. Retrieved September 9, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/news/research/retinal-disorder-treatment.php

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/news/research/retinal-disorder-treatment.php">Rare Eye Retinal Disorder Treatment Success</a>: Patients with a rare blinding eye disease saw their vision improve after treatment with drugs to suppress their immune systems.

Disabled World provides general information only. Materials presented are never meant to substitute for qualified medical care. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.