Experience with infliximab (monoclonal antibody with strong anti-inflammatory action) for treatment of ocular inflammatory disease secondary to rheumatic diseases and refractory to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is described. We evaluated the cases of a 50 year-old patient with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a 37 year-old patient with myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic vasculitis antibody (MPO ANCA) without noble organ affectation, both with bilateral scleritis and left eye corneal perforation with iris prolapse. They received infliximab 3-5 mg/kg IV at 0, 2, 6, and 8 weeks. Infliximab was effective and safe for treatment of scleritis associated to RA and MPO ANCA positive vasculitis refractory to treatment with both DMARDs and high dose corticosteroids. Corneoscleral tissue grafts developed favorably with infliximab.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of two patients who received rituximab for refractory idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) are described. Patients were refractory to conventional treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) so they received rituximab 1 g dose every 14 days in two biannual cycle infusions. Data of proximal muscle strength, pathognomonic skin lesions, CPK, SGOT, LDH and ESR, results of electromyography, muscle and skin biopsy were obtained from the medical records. None of the cases presented drug reaction or infections during and following infusions. Rituximab showed effectiveness in clinical and enzymatic response in patients with dermatomyositis refractory to corticosteroids and traditional DMARDs.