Behçet's disease induced by interferon therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia.
A 59-year-old Japanese woman, diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), developed several characteristic features of Behçet's disease (BD) after receiving alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha). She displayed recurrent oral aphtha, genital ulceration, erythema nodosum at the bilateral arm, and low grade fever. The skin of the femur where the IFN-alpha was injected showed modular acneiform changes. Skin biopsy revealed perivascular infiltration. The symptoms compatible with BD improved after discontinuation of IFN-alpha and the introduction of prednisolone and azathioprine. This is the first description of BD induced by IFN-alpha.
Segawa
F
F
Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Shimizu
Y
Y
Saito
E
E
Kinoshita
M
M
D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000150:complications; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone