Late response to anti-TNF-α therapy in refractory mucocutaneous lesions of Behçet's disease

Rheumatol Int. 2011 Aug;31(8):1097-9. doi: 10.1007/s00296-009-1276-x. Epub 2009 Dec 11.

Abstract

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by oral and genital ulceration and ocular involvement. Recurrent oral and genital ulcers are the most common symptoms of BD and occur in more than 80% of patients. The treatments of these disease manifestations include colchicine, corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs in severe cases. Anti-TNF-α therapy may be useful in refractory severe BD, particularly for ocular, central nervous system, gastrointestinal and refractory mucocutaneous lesions. During a 2-year period, 280 patients suffering from rheumatic diseases received anti-TNF-α agents at the infusion center of our University Hospital. Two patients (0.7%) presented BD; one of them had celiac disease as well, with recalcitrant mucocutaneous lesions that were not responsive to immunosuppressive drugs. We reported those patients who were successfully treated with infliximab and adalimumab, despite their late response.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adalimumab
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Behcet Syndrome / complications
  • Behcet Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Behcet Syndrome / pathology
  • Celiac Disease / complications
  • Celiac Disease / pathology
  • Drug Resistance
  • Female
  • Genital Diseases, Female / drug therapy*
  • Genital Diseases, Female / etiology
  • Genital Diseases, Female / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Infliximab
  • Middle Aged
  • Oral Ulcer / drug therapy*
  • Oral Ulcer / etiology
  • Oral Ulcer / pathology
  • Recurrence
  • Skin Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Skin Diseases / etiology
  • Skin Diseases / pathology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Infliximab
  • Adalimumab