Clinical Follow-up of Patients with Behçet Uveitis after Discontinuation of Infliximab Therapy

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical course of patients with Behçet uveitis after discontinuation of infliximab (IFX) therapy.

Methods

Medical records of eight patients who discontinued treatment between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The main outcome measures were frequency of uveitis attacks per year, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), aqueous flare, foveal thickness and fluorescein angiography (FA) scores before initiation, during treatment and after 6, 12, and 24 months of cessation of the IFX therapy.

Results

The mean follow-up after withdrawal of infusions was 38.6 ± 20.4 (12–90) months. Frequency of uveitis attacks, BCVA, aqueous flare, foveal thickness and FA scores were improved significantly after treatment (p < .05). In terms of these parameters, there was no significant difference between the periods of during treatment and after 6, 12, and 24 months of cessation of the IFX therapy.

Conclusion

IFX therapy might be discontinued safely with an effective inflammation control in patients with Behçet uveitis.

KEYWORDS:

• Behçet disease
• Behçet uveitis
• biologic agents
• infliximab
• treatment

Acknowledgments

The authors report no financial disclosures. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.