title: High-dose cyclophosphamide without stem cell rescue for the treatment of refractory Behcet's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by recurrent mucocutaneous ulcerations, ocular inflammation, and numerous severe systemic inflammatory manifestations. While most patients respond to standard immunosuppressive therapies, a subset will develop refractory disease. In this report, the use of a novel therapy for the treatment of BD is described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with severe refractory BD who were treated with nonmyeloablative high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy without stem cell rescue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, both patients were completely weaned off immunosuppressive therapy and entered disease-free remissions of 18 and 24 months, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy without stem cell rescue as an alternative for the treatment of refractory BD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide