title: [Pathogenesis and treatment of intestinal Behçet's disease].
abstract: Intestinal Behçet's disease (BD) refers to colonic ulcerative lesions documented by objective measures in patients with BD. Although the causes of intestinal BD are unknown, genetic, environmental, and immunological factors have been suggested. Intestinal BD is common in BD patients from Far East, while it is uncommon in those from the Middle East. The reasons for such peculiar geographic distribution in intestinal BD are unknown, but may provide clues for the elucidation of putative etiological agents or genetic factors that might be associated with intestinal BD. Although the treatment of Crohn's disease has improved significantly during past decade, the treatment of intestinal BD is still problematic. Corticosteroids, sulfasalazine, immunomodulators, and colchicines have been used to treat intestinal BD with varying degree of success. Thalidomide and its analogues also appear to be applicable. Monoclonal antibodies to TNF-alpha have recently been focused as a novel therapeutic option for patients with intestinal BD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyunghee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Kyun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyo-Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D013792:Thalidomide; D003078:Colchicine