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Medical Management of Behçet’s Syndrome

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Behçet’s Syndrome

Abstract

The current treatment of Behçet’s syndrome (BS) is directed at the suppression of symptoms and prevention of organ damage. The choice of the therapeutic agent depends on the type and severity of existing symptoms as well as the prognostic factors. Men and those developing the disease at a younger age need to be treated more aggressively since they are at increased risk for a more severe disease course. There is an indication that early treatment with azathioprine improves the long-term prognosis in this group of patients. Colchicine, azathioprine, cyclosporine A, interferon alpha (IFN alpha), and corticosteroids are the most frequently used drugs in the management of BS. Their efficacy has been documented by controlled trials that consistently target mucocutaneous symptoms, joint, and eye involvement. Thus, no formal data are available for the management of vascular, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system disease. TNF alpha inhibitors appear to be promising new agents for the treatment of serious manifestations that are resistant to conventional agents. Recently, a group of experts developed nine European recommendations that target all physicians involved in the management of BS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey

    Vedat Hamuryudan

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  1. Vedat Hamuryudan
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  2. Ina Kötter
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Correspondence to Vedat Hamuryudan .

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  1. Hospital for Joint Diseases, Behçet's Syndrome Center, NYU Medical Center, East 20th Street 246, New York, 10003, New York, USA

    Yusuf Yazıcı

  2. , Department of Medicine, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, 34452, Turkey

    Hasan Yazıcı

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Hamuryudan, V., Kötter, I. (2010). Medical Management of Behçet’s Syndrome. In: Yazıcı, Y., Yazıcı, H. (eds) Behçet’s Syndrome. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5641-5_19

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