Immunosuppression with antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) in the treatment of ophthalmic disorders

Immunosuppression with antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) was administered to 13 patients suffering from ophthalmic diseases. These included 4 with sympathetic ophthalmia, 3 with chronic generalized uveitis, 1 with necrotizing scleritis, 3 with corneal transplantation and 2 with combined corneal and scleral transplants. There was significant improvement in the patients with sympathetic ophthalmia and uveitis when ALG treatment was started early enough, i.e. as long as inflammatory processes were demonstrable. The results achieved in patients given corneal transplants were less convincing in the final outcome, although 3 patients - 2 had rejected previous corneal grafts within weeks - tolerated their corneas for several months after ALG treatment. It was not possible to reverse opacification occurring during corneal graft failure by ALG.