The study was done to evaluate long-term efficacy of infliximab (IFX) in refractory uveoretinitis associated with Behçet’s disease (BD) depending on uveoretinitis duration.
16 patients with BD (32 eyes) followed for >5 years after starting IFX, were retrospectively reviewed. Long-term efficacy was compared between patients with short duration (≤18 months, n=7) versus long duration (>18 months, n=9) of their uveoretinitis prior to starting IFX.
The median follow-up after starting IFX was 132 months (76–146 months). Mean frequency of attacks and the 1-year Behçet’s Disease Ocular Attack Score 24 decreased significantly over 10 years. Overall, the percentage of eyes with a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≥1.0 increased from 47% at baseline to 59% at 5 years; the percentage of eyes with a BCVA ≤0.1 was 19% at both baseline and 5 years. The frequency of ocular attacks decreased similarly in both short duration and long duration groups; however, the percentage of eyes with a BCVA ≥1.0 at 5 years was 100% in the short duration group versus 28% in the long duration group. IFX was discontinued in four patients with an excellent response to IFX therapy; all were young male patients in the short duration group with good BCVA bilaterally, and none had inflammatory recurrences over a median follow-up of 56 months off IFX.
The study was for the initiation of IFX therapy in patients with BD within 18 months of their uveoretinitis onset was more effective in maintaining good BCVA than after 18 months.
Reference: https://bjo.bmj.com/content/early/2020/09/24/bjophthalmol-2020-316892
