Interferon alfa-2a in the treatment of Behçet's disease.
BACKGROUND
There is no definite treatment for Behçet's disease. New drugs are being evaluated in cases unresponsive to conventional treatment modalities.


OBJECTIVE
In this study we investigated the efficacy of interferon alfa-2a on skin lesions in 18 Behçet's disease patients who had predominantly mucocutaneous involvement.


METHODS
Eighteen patients with Behçet's disease were treated with interferon alfa-2a at 3 million IU/day in the first week (three times a week), 6 million IU/day in the second week (three times a week), 9 million IU/day in the third week and thereafter (three times a week). Interferon alfa-2a was administered subcutaneously for a total of 12 weeks.


RESULTS
At the end of the treatment the efficacy of the drug was found to be good in 9 patients and very good in 7 patients. Interferon alfa-2a is particularly effective in skin manifestations such as genital ulceration and erythema-nodosum-like lesions. It was also found to be effective in systemic manifestations such as fever, diarrhea and eye involvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that interferon alfa-2a is a promising drug in the treatment of Behçet's disease.
Azizlerli
G
G
Department of Dermatology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Turkey.
Sarica
R
R
Köse
A
A
Ovül
C
C
Kavala
M
M
Kayabali
M
M
Erkan
F
F
Kural
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins