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Light on the Horizont: biologicals in Behçet uveitis
Author(s) -
Hazirolan Dicle,
Stübiger Nicole,
Pleyer Uwe
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2011.02348.x
Subject(s) - medicine , behcet's disease , uveitis , disease , blindness , intensive care medicine , dermatology , behcet disease , adalimumab , immunology , pathology , optometry
. Relapsing ocular involvement is one of the major manifestations in Behçet disease (BD). When ocular BD is left untreated, it often results in blindness in <5 years. Combining systemic corticosteroids with cyclosporine A and other conventional immune modulating agents has been the only choice for treatment. More recently, the introduction of ‘ biologics’ seems to be an effective therapy in patients affected with BD, especially in those with ocular disease. Our purpose was to survey the current knowledge regarding the biological therapeutic approaches for Behçet uveitis. We focused on the most commonly used biological agents: ‘ tumor necrosis factor‐alpha antagonists’ and ‘ interferon alpha’. We attempted to compare the effectiveness of these two biologicals and tried to balance on the pros and cons of these agents in clinical practice. The impressive efficacy of both approaches in sight‐threatening BD argues for their expanding role. Earlier introduction of these agents in the course of disease may prevent irreversible structural damage and may result in improved long‐term prognosis.