Nicotine-patch therapy on mucocutaneous lesions of Behcet's disease: a case series.
OBJECTIVE
We report the use of nicotine-patch therapy on active mucocutaneous lesions of Behçet's disease (BD).


METHODS
Five BD ex-smoker patients with refractory active mucocutaneous manifestations were treated with nicotine patches for 6 months.


RESULTS
Four out of five patients quickly responded to nicotine-patch therapy and experienced a complete regression of mucocutaneous lesions. Other manifestations of BD did not respond and new manifestations appeared during this treatment. One patient had no benefit from therapy but on restarting smoking it was promptly effective.


CONCLUSIONS
Mucocutaneous lesions associated with BD may be modulated by smoking. Both smoking and nicotine-replacement therapy may be efficacious not only on oral aphthae, but also on other mucocutaneous manifestations, whereas the efficacy in the treatment and prevention of other systemic manifestations of BD is not proven. At least in ex-smokers, nicotine in its pure form is well tolerated and its use could be justified in selected cases of BD with predominant and recurrent refractory mucocutaneous manifestations.
Ciancio
Giovanni
G
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. g.ciancio@ospfe.it
Colina
Matteo
M
La Corte
Renato
R
Lo Monaco
Andrea
A
De Leonardis
Francesco
F
Trotta
Francesco
F
Govoni
Marcello
M
D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy; D012907:Smoking; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D057968:Transdermal Patch; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009538:Nicotine