title: Colchicine in Behçet syndrome: a longterm survey of patients in a controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that colchicine use during early disease decreases immunosuppressive use in Behçet syndrome (BS) in the long term.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with BS who participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of colchicine 16.6±1.1 years ago were evaluated for immunosuppressive use during the posttrial period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We could contact 90/116 patients; 28 (31%) received immunosuppressives during the posttrial period, 14 being from the colchicine arm. Posttrial colchicine use and cumulative duration were similar between patients who received immunosuppressives and those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous use of colchicine, even when initiated at an early disease stage, does not seem to decrease the use of immunosuppressives in the long term.
authors.affiliation: From the Behçet's Syndrome Research Center, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hamuryudan
authors.forename: Gulen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hatemi
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tascilar
authors.forename: Sebahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yurdakul
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mat
authors.forename: Yilmaz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozyazgan
authors.forename: Emire
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seyahi
authors.forename: Serdal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ugurlu
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yazici
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003625:Data Collection; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D019233:Retreatment; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003078:Colchicine
keywords: BEHÇET SYNDROME; COLCHICINE; PROGNOSIS