Infliximab in the treatment of posterior uveitis in Behçet's disease. Long term follow up in four patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of infliximab as adjuvant therapy for refractory uveitis in Behçet's disease.


METHODS
Retrospective evaluation of 4 patients with Behçet's disease and severe uveitis, refractory to conventional corticosteroid and immunosuppressant regimens, to which infliximab (anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) antibodies) was added. The outcome measures were intraocular inflammation, visual acuity, reduction of daily corticosteroid dose, and adverse effects.


RESULTS
The mean follow-up period was 11 months (range: 2-29 months). Patients received a mean of 8 (range: 3-16) infliximab infusions. TNFalpha blockade with infliximab was effective for 2 of our 4 patients: the effect for them was rapid but transient. One patient experienced a thoracic herpes zoster, a severe adverse effect not previously reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Response to infliximab was variable in patients with Behçet's disease for whom conventional immunosuppression had failed. Infliximab allowed the daily corticosteroid dose to be reduced for some patients but required repeated infusions.
Lanthier
Nicolas
N
Department of ophthalmology, University René Descartes, Paris, Frane.
Parc
Christine
C
Scavennec
Rodolphe
R
Dhôte
Robin
R
Brézin
Antoine P
AP
Guillevin
Loïc
L
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015866:Uveitis, Posterior / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab