Efficacy and safety of systemic recombinant interferon-alpha in Behçet's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of systemic recombinant interferon alpha-2a (IFN-alpha) in patients with Behcet's disease (BD) and to determine the incidence of episodes in complete responders during the one-year pretreatment period and follow-up.


METHODS
An open clinical study.


METHODS
Departments of Dermatology and Ophthalmology, University of Patras, Greece and Department of Dermatology, Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany.


METHODS
Twelve patients (aged 23-52 years) with active BD who had previously been unsuccessfully treated with systemic steroids and/or immunosuppressives.


METHODS
IFN-alpha was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 6 X 10(6) IU per day 3 times per week for 2 months.


METHODS
Change of area or number of mucocutaneous lesions, grading score for thrombophlebitis and ocular inflammation, haematological and biochemical parameters and number of episodes during the pretreatment period and the follow-up. Evaluation of IFN-alpha side effects.


RESULTS
Nine patients (75.0%) revealed a complete remission, two (16.6%) a partial remission and one patient (8.3%) showed no response. During the follow-up in five out of the nine complete responders (55.5%) no episodes of BD were seen, whereas, the other four patients (44.5%) had 1-2 episodes, as compared to 5-8 and 5-12 episodes, respectively, during the pretreatment period. An influenza-like syndrome (fever, nausea and myalgias) appeared during the early phase of therapy in all (but one) patients. No patient had to discontinue IFN-alpha because of intolerance.


CONCLUSIONS
Subcutaneous human recombinant interferon alpha-2a appears to be an effective and fairly well tolerated therapy for BD.
Georgiou
S
S
Department of Dermatology, University of Patras, Greece.
Monastirli
A
A
Pasmatzi
E
E
Gartaganis
S
S
Goerz
G
G
Tsambaos
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins