ABSTRACT
While conventional immunosuppressants are used to partially poison a patient by disturbing vast swathes of immune function, but only by a selected amount, advanced therapies started to emerge that could affect a specific portion of the inflammatory cascade in the form of monoclonal antibodies. There are four main categories of biologic: tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α blockers, anti-lymphocyte antibodies, interleukin receptor blockers and interferons. TNF is a cytokine produced by T helper cells and plays a vital role in the inflammatory cascade that sets itself up to cause ocular inflammation. The interleukin receptor blockers function by blocking some signals from getting through but the interferons work by mimicking the signal in order to stimulate certain other parts of the immune system. The field of biologic therapy is new and exciting and new drugs are being developed that are full of potential in the field of uveitis as well as medical retina.
