Low-dose cyclosporine effective for Behçet’s disease

ANKARA, Turkey — Low-dose cyclosporine can effectively manage uveitis and its complications in ocular Behçet’s disease for a long period of time, according to a study conducted here.

Researchers with the Social Insurance Institution Eye Hospital studied 104 eyes of 52 patients between 19 and 53 years of age who had ocular Behçet’s disease and used cyclosporine for at least 1 year.

Patients with severe posterior uveitis, frequent anterior inflammatory attacks or both who were unresponsive to conventional therapeutic agents were placed on 5 mg/kg of cyclosporine per day. Doses were tapered gradually over 2 months to a maintenance dose of 3 mg/kg per day, based on the ocular response and adverse effects. When necessary, 0.2 mg to 0.8 mg/kg per day of prednisone was added.

Patients had a mean ocular involvement period of 64.1 months, and cyclosporine was administered for a mean duration of 38 ±18.1 months. Posterior uveitis was present in 94.21% of patients, and severe, recurrent anterior uveitis was seen in 5.8%.

Visual acuity improved in 30% of eyes, deteriorated in 31% and remained unchanged in 39%.

Half the eyes did not experience ocular attacks during therapy. However, 17% of patients ceased therapy because of adverse effects relating to the use of cyclosporine. All other patients tolerated the drug well.

The study was published in the journal Documenta Ophthalmologica.