title: Pentoxifylline for the treatment of anterior uveitis in Behcet's disease: possible alternative for TNF blockers.
abstract: Behcet's disease is an inflammatory disorder of unknown cause, characterized by recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers, uveitis, and skin lesions. All these common manifestations are self-limiting except for the ocular attacks. The objective of the present study is to report the efficacy of pentoxifylline for ocular involvement in Behcet's disease. We report a patient with ocular involvement secondary to Behcet's disease which was corticosteroid dependent and refractory to azathioprine treatment. Pentoxifylline was added with amelioration of inflammation. Pentoxifylline may be a useful treatment option in patients with Behcet's disease, where other immunosuppressives have failed or are contra-indicated.
authors.affiliation: McGill University Health Care Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. appenzellersimone@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Appenzeller
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hazel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline