Yonsei Med J.  1997 Dec;38(6):401-410. 10.3349/ymj.1997.38.6.401.

Treatment of Behcet's disease

• Bang D

• KMID: 2158069
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.1997.38.6.401

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.

Keyword

Behcet's disease; treatment

MeSH Terms

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