Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD

In a study of vemurafenib recipients, about 10% were referred for ocular symptoms.

Although various adverse effects have been associated with vemurafenib and dabrafenib treatment of advanced melanoma, ocular symptoms have not been reported in the literature. Uveitis can now be added to a long list of potential complications resulting from selective BRAF inhibitors.

To characterize the risk for developing uveitis and its effects in vemurafenib recipients, these researchers collected data on metastatic melanoma patients referred for ocular symptoms (pain, redness, vision loss, blurred vision, and floaters) to a French department of ophthalmology. Eight of 78 vemurafenib recipients were referred for ocular symptoms, and 7 received a uveitis diagnosis. Time from treatment initiation to symptom onset ranged from 3 weeks to 7 months. Disease was mild, except in one patient who had severe uveitis in both eyes, retinal detachment, and complete vision loss. Five patients improved with drug cessation and corticosteroid treatment. Two patients had relapsed uveitis when vemurafenib was resumed.

Citation(s):

Guedj M et al. Uveitis in patients with late-stage cutaneous melanoma treated with vemurafenib. JAMA Opthalmol 2014 Aug 14; [e-pub ahead of print].