Abstract
Purpose:
To determine the intermediate- to long-term efficacy and safety of systemic infliximab for the uveitis associated with Behçet's disease.
Methods:
Eight patients with refractory uveitis (6 men and 2 women) associated with Behçet's disease were given infliximab systemically at the Chiba University Hospital between April 2007 to September 2012. Their average age was 44.1 years. The mean interval from the onset to the beginning of treatment ranged from 2 months to 288 months (the average; 86.5 months). We measured the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), determined the presence of cells in the anterior chamber, vitreous haze, and retinal inflammation every six months before and after the treatment. The number of attacks and the side effects of the infliximab therapy were also assessed.
Results:
In 6 eyes of 8 patients, the average followed-up period was 35 months (range, 6 to 87 months), and they continued to receive infliximab treatment for 12 to >24 months. The treatment in one patient was stopped because of the onset of neuro-Behçet's disease. The treatment in none of the other cases was suspended due to side effects. The average number of attack was 1.6 times during the six months before treatment, and the average number was reduced to 0.5 times six month after the beginning of treatment and 0.2 times during the 24 months after the beginning of the treatments. In 5 cases, an attack did not occur for more than one year after the treatment. In these cases, the BCVA was improved to >0.2 logMAR units in two eyes and was <0.2 logMAR units in 2 eyes more than one year after the treatment. In 10 eyes, the BCVA was maintained without significant change. There were no serious intra- or extraocular side effects.
Conclusions:
Systemic administration of infliximab for the uveitis associated with Behçet's disease can significantly reduce the number of attacks and is effective in maintaining the BCVA for at least 12 months without serious side effects.
Keywords: 746 uveitis-clinical/animal model