Open AccessInterferon-α2a treatment for refractory Behçet's disease
Author(s) -
Yung Jen Lai,
WeiChun Chan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
taiwan journal of ophthalmology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.519
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 2211-5072
pISSN - 2211-5056
DOI - 10.4103/tjo.tjo_99_17
Subject(s) - medicine , uveitis , discontinuation , prednisone , azathioprine , behcet's disease , adalimumab , prednisolone , surgery , maintenance therapy , alpha interferon , refractory (planetary science) , vasculitis , visual acuity , dermatology , disease , immunology , interferon , chemotherapy , physics , astrobiology
We report a young male patient with Behçet's disease who suffered from sight-threatening recurrences under treatment with azathioprine, cyclosporine, and prednisolone. His uveitis responded well to antitumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (adalimumab) for 5 months subsequently. Severe uveitis recurred soon after discontinuation of anti-TNF alpha therapy and could not be controlled well with reinstitution of the anti-TNF alpha therapy. Interferon- α 2a (IFN- α 2a) was then given along with low-dose oral prednisone (10 mg/day), and the uveitis responded well to this therapy. We continued a maintenance dose with of IFN- α 2a three times/week for 2 years. Sight-threatening uveitis did not recur under IFN- α 2a therapy, and the visual acuity improved from "counting fingers" to 20/100 in the right eye, while remaining stable with 20/20 vision in the left eye. The patient had flu-like symptoms, fever, and severe depression during IFN therapy, but an attempt to discontinue INF led to relapse within 1 month. This case report suggests that IFN- α 2a could be an option for treatment in Behçet's uveitis. Further study is needed to clarify the efficacy and appropriate strategy for IFN- α 2a therapy for Behçet's uveitis in Taiwan.