Tacrolimus in the treatment of ocular diseases.

Abstract

Tacrolimus (FK506) has been used successfully as a systemic immunomodulator for more than 2 decades, and numerous studies have investigated its mechanisms of action. Systemic and topical tacrolimus have been investigated as treatments for ocular surface disorders that may have an immune-based inflammatory component. In these studies, tacrolimus has shown efficacy in corneal graft rejection, inflammatory conjunctival and corneal diseases, uveitis, and graft-versus-host disease. As these disorders are often refractory to other available treatments, ophthalmic or systemic tacrolimus is a welcome nontoxic adjunct or replacement to potentially toxic topical or systemic immunosuppressive therapies.

• Authors: Jiajie Zhai, Jianjun Gu, Jin Yuan, Jiaqi Chen
• Journal: BioDrugs : clinical immunotherapeutics, biopharmaceuticals and gene therapy (BioDrugs) Vol. 25 Issue 2 Pg. 89-103 (Apr 01 2011) ISSN: 1179-190X [Electronic] New Zealand
• PMID: 21443273 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: © 2011 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Tacrolimus

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Animals
• Eye Diseases (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Tacrolimus (administration & dosage, pharmacology)