The Efficacy of Medium- to Long-term Anti-TNF-α Antibody-based Maintenance Therapy in Behçet's Disease Patients with Intestinal Lesions

Objective Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibody-based regimens are effective in Behçet's disease (BD) with intestinal lesions. We therefore evaluated the efficacy of medium- to long-term anti-TNF-α antibody-based maintenance therapy of BD intestinal and non-intestinal lesions. Methods In this retrospective study, the response to the treatment was assessed endoscopically and clinically. Treatment responders were transferred to maintenance therapy. We evaluated the sustain rate of maintenance therapy, reductions in the dose of prednisolone (PSL), and the presence of non-intestinal BD involvement before and after the start of anti-TNF-α antibody-based the maintenance therapy. Patients We assessed 20 BD patients with intestinal lesions who underwent anti-TNF-α antibody-based therapy. Results Treatment was discontinued in 3 patients (18%). Loss of response was noted in 1 (5.9%) patient. Maintenance therapy was continued in 13 (76%) patients. The cumulative sustain rates to maintenance therapy after 2, 4, and 6 years were 94%, 87%, and 72%, respectively. In the 13 patients with remission of intestinal lesions, the mean PSL dose decreased from 13.4±2.16 mg/day before treatment to 0.92±0.47 after treatment (p