Treatment of Behcet's disease.
10.3349/ymj.1997.38.6.401
- Author:
Dongsik BANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Behcet's disease;
treatment
- MeSH:
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use;
Behcet's Syndrome/therapy*;
Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use;
Human;
Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use;
Tetracycline/therapeutic use;
Thalidomide/therapeutic use;
Zinc Sulfate/therapeutic use
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
1997;38(6):401-410
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Behcet's disease is characterized with multifactorial etiopathogenesis and multiclinical pictures. The treatment of patients with Behcet's disease is based on the severity of illness, and the most appropriate management of Behcet's disease requires a multidisciplinary approach. Although various therapeutic modalities have been employed for Behcet's disease, treatment is far from satisfactory. Treatment of Behcet's disease includes local, systemic, or surgical therapies. Limited success has been found with colchicine, azathioprine, indomethacin, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, levamisole, transfer factor, fibrinolytic therapy, and systemic corticosteroid. New therapeutic approaches have been introduced for Behcet's disease using cyclosporine, thalidomide, interferon, acyclovir, high-dose corticosteroids or cyclophosphamide pulse therapy, and FK 506. We suggest that therapeutic agents should be selected after thorough evaluation of the immune state of each patient by using various tests and by determining any aggravating or provoking factors involved. In general, a combination-agent regimen is more effective than a single-agent regimen. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can inhibit or at lease slow the progress of the disease remarkably.
