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Reviewed By: Laura Martin,
SOURCES: 2009 Medical Reference from Medstar Television. James Rosenbaum, MD, Rheumatologist, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.
© 1999-2011 Medstar Television
Brianne Vredenburg (BREE-ann VRED-in-BURG) was diagnosed with uveitis (YOO-vee-EYE-tiss) at 16. By college, she began to see the consequences.
All of a sudden, I go in for my checkup and my vision, I close my left eye and I could barely see out of my right eye. And I immediately, it was just kind of a shock.
The disease causes swelling and irritation of the eye's uvea (YOO-ve-ah) – where veins and arteries bring blood critical for vision. Steroids and other drugs to suppress the immune system are typical first treatments – but doctors say they're either ineffective or have serious side effects.
Like weight gain, diabetes, low resistance to infection, thinning of the bones.
Now researchers hope a new drug will have a more positive effect.
This is the first time where we've had an oral drug that impacts the immune system that's been specifically studied in a large randomized trial for uveitis.
Studies show the experimental drug, L-X-2-11, cuts inflammation flare-ups by 50 percent compared to a placebo. And, so far, the side effects have been mild.
It doesn't poison the cells like some of these other drugs, but it effects the function of the T-lymphocytes. And we think the T-lymphocytes are contributing to this autoimmune process that's leading to blindness.
It's an exciting breakthrough for patients. Uveitis is the fourth leading cause of blindness.
If you could fix my vision and not have any side effects, that would be amazing.
For WebMD, I'm Damon Meharg.
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