Biological therapies for the treatment of Behçet's disease-related uveitis beyond TNF-alpha blockade: a narrative review

Rheumatol Int. 2018 Jan;38(1):25-35. doi: 10.1007/s00296-017-3775-5. Epub 2017 Jul 27.

Abstract

Intraocular inflammation is one of the more relevant complications of Behçet's disease (BD), which tends to respond poorly to different medications. The ocular histopathologic changes are basically identical to those occurring in other organs and consist in a necrotizing leukocytoclastic obliterative vasculitis, which is probably immune complex-mediated and affects both arteries and veins of all sizes. There are growing evidences showing the potential role of biologic agents other than anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α agents in the management of ocular-BD, which have been collected in this review, including interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 blockade, secukinumab, ustekinumab, daclizumab, rituximab, and alemtuzumab. Further large studies are needed to fully elucidate and establish the clinical efficacy of these different tools in the refractory ocular manifestations of BD.

Keywords: Behçet’s disease; Biologics; Eye disease; Treatment; Uveitis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Behcet Syndrome / complications*
  • Biological Products / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uveitis / drug therapy*
  • Uveitis / etiology

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • Interleukin-1
  • Interleukin-6