title: [Interferons and Behçet's disease].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Behçet's disease is a vasculitis of unknown origin. Various therapeutic agents have been proposed. Interferon alpha 2a or 2b appear to be the most promising.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Numerous anecdotal reports and some short series have shown the efficacy of interferon in some cases previously resistant to conventional therapy, particularly to immunosuppressors. Posology, depending on the author, may vary from three million three times a week to 18 million three times a week. Interferon alpha is useful in cases of ocular, muco-cutaneous and articular involvement. Data is lacking for digestive, vascular and neurological manifestations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multicenter trials will nevertheless be required to determine the duration of therapy, risk of relapses, associated therapy and the optimal time to commence interferon treatment.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83 boulevard de l'Hôpital, Paris, France. bertrand.wechsler@psl.ap-hp-paris.fr
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wechsler
authors.forename: L T H
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Du-Boutin
mesh_terms: D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha