title: Management of Behçet disease: a systematic literature review for the European League Against Rheumatism evidence-based recommendations for the management of Behçet disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present and analyse the literature sources regarding the management of Behçet disease (BD) identified during the systematic literature research, which formed the basis for the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) evidence-based recommendations for the management of BD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Problem areas and related keywords regarding the management of BD were determined by the multidisciplinary expert committee commissioned by EULAR for developing the recommendations. A systematic literature research was performed using MedLine and Cochrane Library resources through to December 2006. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), open studies, observational studies, case control studies and case series' involving > or = 5 patients were included. For each intervention the effect size and number needed to treat were calculated for efficacy. Odds ratios and numbers needed to harm were calculated for safety issues of different treatment modalities where possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature research yielded 137 articles that met the inclusion criteria; 20 of these were RCTs. There was good evidence supporting the use of azathioprine and cyclosporin A in eye involvement and interferon (IFN)alpha in mucocutaneous involvement. There were no RCTs with IFNalpha or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha antagonists in eye involvement. Similarly controlled data for the management of vascular, gastrointestinal and neurological involvement is lacking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Properly designed, controlled studies (new and confirmatory) are still needed to guide us in managing BD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hatemi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bodaghi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Houman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kötter
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvarani
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Sfikakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siva
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stanford
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stübiger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yurdakul
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yazici
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha