Systemic Immunosuppressive Therapy for Eye Diseases Cohort Study

• To evaluate whether immunosuppressive therapy for ocular inflammatory disease is associated with increased long-term risk of mortality and/or cancer.
• To evaluate outcomes of ocular inflammatory diseases.

For many years, patients and clinicians have been concerned that use of immunosuppressive therapies for ocular inflammatory diseases might incur a risk of long-term adverse effects, such as cancer. Available data are insufficient to answer this question, and alternative answers would have important therapeutic implications. Available information regarding the outcomes of patients with ocular inflammatory diseases also are limited.

The Systemic Immunosuppressive Therapy for Eye Diseases Cohort Study is a retrospective cohort study conducted at: the Casey Eye Institute; the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; the National Eye Institute; the Scheie Eye Institute; and the Wilmer Eye Institute. Data regarding disease diagnosis and use of immunosuppressive therapy in the past are obtained by chart review. Data on other therapies and clinical characteristics also are entered, to allow analyses regarding other questions. Data regarding mortality and cancer-specific mortality are obtained from the National Death Index.

Patients' medical records are eligible for review if they were seen at one of these centers in the past and have an ocular inflammatory disease diagnosis. Patients are not prospectively enrolled in this study.

Recruiting. Comments: In general, patients' medical records are eligible if they have been seen at one of the participating centers in the past and have an ocular inflammatory disease diagnosis.

Ongoing. Comments: Data collection is ongoing.

As of July 12, 2006, approximately 3000 patients' charts have been entered. No summary results are available for dissemination as of July 12, 2006. One case report is in press.