Interferon alpha for ocular Behçet's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutic role of interferon alpha in ocular Behçet's disease.


METHODS
Three patients with B- or C-hepatitis and ocular sight-threatening Behçet's disease unresponsive to steroids were treated subcutaneously with interferon alpha 3 x 10(6)/unit three times per week for a mean period of 22 months (range: 12-31 months). The course of ocular and systemic lesions was recorded and compared with a similar pre-treatment period.


RESULTS
At least a 50% reduction in the number of ocular relapses was observed in all the patients (mean relapse/month: 0.41 versus 0.16 in the pre- and in-treatment period, respectively) while during therapy also each relapse lasted less in all subjects. A reduction of steroid dependence was observed in all patients, while no significant side-effects were related to interferon alpha administration. Two patients who tried to stop interferon alpha therapy showed after a mean period of 12.5 days a recurrence of diffuse uveitis and, one of them experienced oral and genital aphthae as well.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with Behçet's disease interferon alpha seems to be a useful alternative therapy for sight-threatening ocular involvement.
Pivetti-Pezzi
P
P
Servizio Speciale di Immunovirologia Oculare, Istituto di Oftalmologia, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Accorinti
M
M
Pirraglia
M P
MP
Priori
R
R
Valesini
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015866:Uveitis, Posterior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha