Efficacy of Calcineurin Inhibitors for Induction of Remission in Intestinal Behçet's Disease

Takaaki Kawaguchi; Masayuki Fukata; Teppei Omori; Hiroki Kiyohara; Shinya Sugimoto; Kosaku Nanki; Tomohisa Sujino; Yohei Mikami; Takanori Kanai

doi:10.1093/crocol/otac017

Efficacy of Calcineurin Inhibitors for Induction of Remission in Intestinal Behçet's Disease

Crohns Colitis 360. 2022 Jun 2;4(3):otac017. doi: 10.1093/crocol/otac017. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Authors

Takaaki Kawaguchi¹, Masayuki Fukata², Teppei Omori³, Hiroki Kiyohara¹, Shinya Sugimoto¹, Kosaku Nanki¹, Tomohisa Sujino¹, Yohei Mikami¹, Takanori Kanai¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
² Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Yamate Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract

Background: The efficacy of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) for induction of remission in intestinal Behçet's disease (intestinal BD) has not been explored.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective case series study of patients with active intestinal BD treated with CNIs (cyclosporin and tacrolimus) was conducted.

Results: Of 16 patients, 12 (75%) showed a clinical response and 5 (31.3%) achieved clinical remission after 2 weeks of CNI treatment. Similar efficacy of CNIs was observed even in 7 patients refractory to antitumor necrosis factor-alpha therapies. Endoscopic improvement was observed in 11 of 12 patients.

Conclusions: CNIs may be promising treatment options for refractory intestinal BD.

Keywords: calcineurin inhibitor; cyclosporin; intestinal Behçet’s disease; tacrolimus.