A patient with neuro-Behçet's disease is successfully treated with etanercept: further evidence for the value of TNFalpha blockade.
Behçet's disease is a chronic relapsing multisystem vasculitis with 49% of cases involving the CNS. Recently there have been two reports of neuro-Behçet's disease (NB) successfully treated with the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) monoclonal antibody infliximab. We describe a patient with longstanding NB who was poorly responsive to azathioprine, cyclosporin, thalidomide and methotrexate. She showed a remarkable response when treated with the recombinant human TNFalpha receptor protein, etanercept. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of NB successfully treated with etanercept.
Alty
Jane E
JE
Department of Neurology, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds LS1 3EX, United Kingdom. altyjane@doctors.org.uk
Monaghan
Tanya M
TM
Bamford
John M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept