Journal Article

The Effectiveness of Pre- and Postoperative Infliximab in Controlling Behçet’s Disease Posterior Uveitis in Patients Undergoing Vitrectomy: A Preliminary Study

Gheita, Tamer Atef, El Gendy, Heba A., Haroun, Hazem Effat, Bakir, Hossam Mahmoud, Youssef, Hala Ahmed Raafat, Khalil, Hossam El Din Mohamed

2017

Overview

Purpose. To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of infliximab in controlling ocular manifestations in Behçet’s Disease (BD) patients candidate for pars plana vitrectomy, if given in a regimen before and after the planned procedure. Patients and Methods. 30 eyes of 27 adult male BD patients with a mean age of 35.56 yrs presented with refractory posterior uveitis not responding to immunosuppressive drugs and candidate for vitrectomy were included. Infliximab was given in a dose of 5 mg/kg intravenous infusion once every two weeks for 3 treatment sessions before the intended vitrectomy followed by 3 treatment sessions at two-week intervals, after vitrectomy. Results. Improvement of ocular manifestations was noted in all eyes, with complete resolution in 26 eyes (87%). Visual acuity improved from 0.23 ± 0.11 to 0.38 ± 0.17 (p≤0.2), ESR decreased from 65.92 mm/hr ± 17.32 SD to 24.93 mm/hr ± 5.28 SD at the last treatment cycle (p≤0.1). The mean daily dose of systemic corticosteroids was tapered from 44.54 mg/d ± 2.89 to 8.48 mg/d ± 6.38 (p≤0.2), and no relapses were noted during the follow-up period. Conclusion. Infliximab may be safe and effective in controlling posterior uveitis and inducing remissions if given in a regimen before and after vitrecomy in BD patients.

• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation,Hindawi,John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Behcet's disease / Clinical Study / Complications and side effects / Dosage and administration / Drug dosages / Drug therapy / Immunotherapy / Infliximab / Monoclonal antibodies / Patient outcomes / TNF inhibitors / Tumor necrosis factor-TNF / Vein & artery diseases / Vitrectomy