BACKGROUND: Vemurafenib, an inhibitor of genetically activated BRAF, is now 
commonly prescribed for metastatic melanoma harboring a BRAF mutation. Reports 
on side effects have focused on cutaneous complications. We here present a case 
of a severe pan-uveitis associated with vemurafenib use.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year old female was treated with the BRAF inhibitor 
vemurafenib for metastatic melanoma. After seven weeks of treatment, she 
developed near-complete visual loss in the course of a few days, as a result of 
severe uveitis. Vemurafenib had to be discontinued and systemic and topical 
corticosteroids were initiated. The visual symptoms improved slowly, however the 
cerebral metastases progressed and the patient died from her disease.
CONCLUSION: Treatment with vemurafenib has become an important component of 
standard clinical care for patients with metastatic melanoma. In addition, it is 
one of the best examples of genotype-directed therapy. This case illustrates 
that vemurafenib-induced uveitis can develop fast and be slow to resolve. 
Awareness of this potentially severe side effect is of major importance to 
oncologists and aggressive treatment should be considered.