Abstract
Purpose: :
To assess the safety of infliximab treatment in patients with Behcet’s disease with refractory uveoretinitis.
Methods: :
Clinical charts of 36 consecutive patients with Behcet’s disease treated with infliximab at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Side effects during the whole follow up period under infliximab (1-49 months: average 18months) were recorded.
Results: :
Side effects were observed in 21 patients (58%): dermatological events (9 patients; infusion reaction not included), infusion reaction (8), enteritis (3), leucopenia (2), tuberculosis (1), bacterial pneumonia (1), cellulitis (1), myalgia (1), transaminases increase (1). Serious side effects were observed in 2 patients (6%), which included tuberculosis (n=1) and bacterial pneumonia (n=1). Of the 8 patients who caused infusion reaction, 6 patients had mild-severe acute episodes of uveitis. Eight patients (22%) discontinued the therapy due to infusion reaction in two, move to distance cities in two, and one each due to tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia, leucopenia, increase of transaminases values.
Conclusions: :
The majority adverse events in patients treated with infliximab were mild. However, a much longer observation is necessary to ensure its safety, especially infections.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • drug toxicity/drug effects