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Late response to anti-TNF-α therapy in refractory mucocutaneous lesions of Behçet’s disease

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Abstract

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a multisystem chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by oral and genital ulceration and ocular involvement. Recurrent oral and genital ulcers are the most common symptoms of BD and occur in more than 80% of patients. The treatments of these disease manifestations include colchicine, corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs in severe cases. Anti-TNF-α therapy may be useful in refractory severe BD, particularly for ocular, central nervous system, gastrointestinal and refractory mucocutaneous lesions. During a 2-year period, 280 patients suffering from rheumatic diseases received anti-TNF-α agents at the infusion center of our University Hospital. Two patients (0.7%) presented BD; one of them had celiac disease as well, with recalcitrant mucocutaneous lesions that were not responsive to immunosuppressive drugs. We reported those patients who were successfully treated with infliximab and adalimumab, despite their late response.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, FAPESP (Grant 06/61303-7 to CDMAC), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPQ (Grants 300248/2008-3 to CAAS and 305468/2006-5 to EB) and the Federico Foundation Grant to EB and JFC.

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The authors state that they do not have any conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CEDMAC, Disciplina de Reumatologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Dr. Arnaldo, no 455, 3° andar, sala 3190, Cerqueira César, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 05403-010, Brazil

    Nádia Emi Aikawa, Carla Gonçalves, Clovis Artur Almeida Silva, Célio Gonçalves, Eloísa Bonfá & Jozélio Freire de Carvalho

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  1. Nádia Emi Aikawa
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  2. Carla Gonçalves
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  3. Clovis Artur Almeida Silva
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  4. Célio Gonçalves
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  5. Eloísa Bonfá
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  6. Jozélio Freire de Carvalho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jozélio Freire de Carvalho.

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Aikawa, N.E., Gonçalves, C., Silva, C.A.A. et al. Late response to anti-TNF-α therapy in refractory mucocutaneous lesions of Behçet’s disease. Rheumatol Int 31, 1097–1099 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-009-1276-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-009-1276-x

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