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Pentoxifylline for the treatment of anterior uveitis in Behcet’s disease: possible alternative for TNF blockers

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Abstract

Behcet’s disease is an inflammatory disorder of unknown cause, characterized by recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers, uveitis, and skin lesions. All these common manifestations are self-limiting except for the ocular attacks. The objective of the present study is to report the efficacy of pentoxifylline for ocular involvement in Behcet’s disease. We report a patient with ocular involvement secondary to Behcet’s disease which was corticosteroid dependent and refractory to azathioprine treatment. Pentoxifylline was added with amelioration of inflammation. Pentoxifylline may be a useful treatment option in patients with Behcet’s disease, where other immunosuppressives have failed or are contra-indicated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McGill University Health Care Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    Simone Appenzeller & Elizabeth Hazel

  2. Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medical Science, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil

    Simone Appenzeller

Authors
  1. Simone Appenzeller
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  2. Elizabeth Hazel
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Correspondence to Simone Appenzeller.

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Appenzeller, S., Hazel, E. Pentoxifylline for the treatment of anterior uveitis in Behcet’s disease: possible alternative for TNF blockers. Rheumatol Int 31, 1511–1513 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-009-1305-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-009-1305-9

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