title: Efficacy of infliximab in patients with intestinal Behçet's disease refractory to conventional medication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the short- and long-term efficacy and safety of infliximab (IFX) in intestinal Behçet's disease (BD) patients in a retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 43 consecutive patients with intestinal BD presenting at the same clinic, 15 with active disease and receiving standard treatment were given IFX infusions (5 mg/kg body weight) every eight weeks. The patients were clinically and endoscopically evaluated before treatment, then assessed after 10 weeks, 12 months and 24 months for a clinical response, defined as a significant improvement in intestinal symptoms and a reduced C-reactive protein (CRP) level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At week 10, 12 patients (80%) exhibited a response to IFX, with eight (53%) in remission with no intestinal symptoms and normal CRP levels. A response to IFX was maintained in seven of the 11 patients (64%) available at 12 months and in four of the eight patients (50%) available at 24 months. Of the seven patients receiving prednisolone at entry, five responders had their steroid doses reduced. Fulminant intestinal BD was predictive of an absence of response to IFX. The adverse effects comprised one infusion reaction and one case of fever, most likely related to IFX.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFX is effective and safe in patients with refractory intestinal BD.
authors.affiliation: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre, Yokohama City University Medical Centre, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kunisaki
authors.forename: Hisae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Reikei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Katsuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naganuma
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab