The treatment of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) remains controversial regarding the use of local, systemic, or combined treatments. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy and toxicity of intravenous high‐dose methotrexate (IV HD‐MTX) based systemic therapy in a uniformly treated population of PVRL patients. From a nationwide French database, we retrospectively selected 59 patients (median age: 70 years, median Karnofsky Performance Status: 90%) with isolated PVRL at diagnosis who received first‐line treatment with HD‐MTX between 2011 and 2018. 8/59 patients also received a local treatment. No deaths or premature discontinuations of MTX due to toxicity were reported. A complete response was obtained in 40/57 patients after chemotherapy. Before treatment, IL‐10 was elevated in the aqueous humor (AH) or in the vitreous in 89% of patients. After treatment, AH IL‐10 was undetectable in 87% of patients with a CR/uCR/PR and detectable in 92% of patients with PD/SD. After a median follow‐up of 61 months, 42/59 (71%) patients had relapsed, including 29 isolated ocular relapses as the first relapse and a total of 22 brain relapses. The median overall survival, progression‐free survival, ocular‐free survival and brain‐free survival were 75, 18, 29 and 73 months, respectively. IV HD‐MTX based systemic therapy as a first‐line treatment for isolated PVRL is feasible, with acceptable toxicity, even in an elderly population. This strategy seems efficient to prevent brain relapse with prolonged overall survival. However, the ocular relapse rate remains high. New approaches are needed to improve local control of this disease, and ocular assessment could be completed by monitoring AH IL‐10.
Purpose. To report favorable outcome of a case of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) associated with cerebral vasculitis after treatment with immunosuppressive therapy by mitoxantrone. Design. Single case report. Method. A 22-year-old man presented with acute isolated bilateral loss of vision revealing APMPPE. Corticosteroid therapy was initiated and visual acuity gradually improved. Seventeen days later, visual function deteriorated again, associated with flu-like syndrome and severe headaches. A relapse of APMPPE was diagnosed, complicated with lymphocytic meningitis and cerebral ischemia. Intravenous therapy with mitoxantrone was performed in combination with methylprednisolone. Results. Headaches disappeared in a few days whereas visual acuity gradually improved and stabilized at 20/40 in the right eye and 20/32 in the left eye. No adverse event was observed. Clinical improvement was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion. Cerebral vasculitis is the most severe complication of the extraocular manifestations of APMPEE. This diagnosis should be evoked when severe headaches or behavior disorder are associated with APMPEE.
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