Abstract

Background: Behcet’s disease (BD) is an inflammatory, chronic, recurrent, multisystemic process of unknown origin, characterized by the simultaneous or sequential presence of oral aphthae, genital ulcers, uveitis, inflammatory skin lesions, arterial or venous thrombosis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and involvement of the central nervous system (CNS). The highest incidence figures correspond to the countries of the Middle East and the Far East (prevalence’s of 20-42/100,000), decreases in the Western Mediterranean ( Objectives: To describe the demographic, clinical, and analytical characteristics, as well as immunosuppressive and biological treatments used, type of ocular and extra ocular involvement, presence of sequelae, and visual acuity (VA) affectation, of the patients that are in follow-up in the uveitis unit of the Donostia University Hospital (DUH). Methods: A retrospective search of all patients with BD and ocular involvement evaluated the uveitis unit since 2007. The computerized medical records were reviewed. The variables collected were: sex, age, immunosuppressive and biological treatments used, and complementary tests. The immunosuppressant’s sought were methotrexate (MTX), azathioprine (AZA), tacrolimus, sulfasalazine (SSZ), cyclosporine (CsA), leflunomide (LFN), cyclophosphamide (CFM); adalimumab (ADA); infliximab (IFX), golimumab (GLM), intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). The quantitative variables are shown with the median and interquartile range; the qualitative ones are shown with the absolute value and its percentage. Results: We found 22 patients diagnosed with BD, the average age was 42 years, with a predominance of women (59%). Table 1 shows the clinical characteristics, complementary tests and treatments used in these patients. The most frequent type of ophthalmological affectation was panuveitis with retinal vasculitis in 40%, followed by uveitis in 36%. The median VA at the first visit (RE 0.85 LE 0.85), and at the last follow-up visit (RE 1 LE 1), observing an improvement in VA after follow-up. The most common extra ocular involvement was the presence of oral aphthae in 90%, followed by erythema nodosum and arthritis in 45%. Positivity for HLA B51/B57 was observed in 81% of the patients. The most frequent immunosuppressant used was CsA 59%, followed by aDA 40%. Among the main aftermath, the presence of cataract was observed in 40% and synechia in 27%. The mean follow-up of these patients was 85 months. Conclusion: We observed an improvement in VA during the follow-up of these patients compared to VA at the beginning; 70% of patients continued with immunosuppressive treatment with good control of the disease at more than 85 months of follow-up. Disclosure of interests: Jesus alejandro Valero Jaimes: None declared, Olga Maiz-Alonso Speakers bureau: Pfizer, ana Carmen Blanco Esteban: None declared, andrea De Diego Sola: None declared

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call