Behçet's uveitis in Japan: evaluation of the long-term efficacy and safety of infliximab treatment

Retrospective 13 multicenter observational study were performed using a questionnaire of 164 Behçet's patients treated with infliximab for more than 1 year were studied in Japan. The mean age at initiation of infliximab treatment was 42 years, and the mean treatment duration was 33 months. The frequency of ocular attacks significantly decreased significantly after infliximab treatment, and best collected visual acuityand was improved in approximately 55% of the eyes after treatment in all groups. However, the mean uveitis relapsed in 59% of all patients after infliximab treatment, and approximately 80% of relapses occurred within a year after the initiation of infliximab treatment. Ninety percent of them were controlled by increasing doses of topical corticosteroids and shortening the interval of infliximab infusion. Adverse effects were observed in 35%. Infliximab treatment was continued in 85% of the patients, but 15% of the patients discontinued infliximab treatment because of adverse effects or insufficient efficacy. Infliximab was effective and safereduced the frequency of ocular attacks and improved visual acuity in patients with Behçet-related uveitis, and was generally well tolerated with few serious adverse events.