Interferon-alpha in the Treatment of Behcet's Disease

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the therapeutic efficacy of interferon-alpha on patients with Behcet's disease who have been resistant to conventional therapies. METHODS: We treated 22 eyes of 13 patients with interferon-alpha for a mean of 20.5 months. They were given 3 million units interferon-alpha subcutaneously three times a week. Using slit lamp microscopy, fluorescent angiography, the authors compared visual acuity, frequency of relapse of uveitis and complications of interferon-alpha. RESULTS: The average ocular attack rate fell from 0.41 times a month to 0.19 times after interferon therapy. In addition, the degree of intraocular inflammation and especially retinal vasculitis decreased. There were no side effects significant enough to stop using interferon. CONCLUSIONS: Therapy with interferon-alpha seems to be an effective and safe regimen in Behcet's disease for refractory ocular attack and for the protection of vision.