Successful Discontinuation of Infliximab in a Refractory Case of Vasculo-Behçet Disease

Reports have shown that antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) agents including infliximab (IFX) can dramatically suppress the disease activity of refractory vasculo-Behçet disease (vasculo-BD). However, it is completely unknown whether we can discontinue anti-TNF-α agents under clinical remis...

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Main Authors: Akihiro Nakamura, Tomoya Miyamura, Eiichi Suematsu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Rheumatology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1467583
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author Akihiro Nakamura
Tomoya Miyamura
Eiichi Suematsu
author_facet Akihiro Nakamura
Tomoya Miyamura
Eiichi Suematsu
author_sort Akihiro Nakamura
collection DOAJ
description Reports have shown that antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) agents including infliximab (IFX) can dramatically suppress the disease activity of refractory vasculo-Behçet disease (vasculo-BD). However, it is completely unknown whether we can discontinue anti-TNF-α agents under clinical remission. A 31-year-old patient with vasculo-BD was initially treated with a high dose of steroid and intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy. Six months later, however, the disease recurred. IFX was administered and immediately the disease activity was reduced. Fortunately, we could discontinue IFX after 18-month remission and no recurrence has been observed. Based on previous reports and our patient, all patients who could discontinue IFX sustained clinical remission for at least one year, continued taking immunosuppressive agents such as methotrexate and azathioprine, and had vascular involvements only in non-life-threatening major vessels such as leg or arm arteries/veins. This is a report suggesting the possibility of discontinuation of IFX in vasculo-BD.
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spelling doaj-art-0cb119e26b9d494ca57a0237cde855e72025-08-20T03:54:15ZengWileyCase Reports in Rheumatology2090-68892090-68972016-01-01201610.1155/2016/14675831467583Successful Discontinuation of Infliximab in a Refractory Case of Vasculo-Behçet DiseaseAkihiro Nakamura0Tomoya Miyamura1Eiichi Suematsu2Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka 810-8563, JapanDepartment of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka 810-8563, JapanDepartment of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka 810-8563, JapanReports have shown that antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) agents including infliximab (IFX) can dramatically suppress the disease activity of refractory vasculo-Behçet disease (vasculo-BD). However, it is completely unknown whether we can discontinue anti-TNF-α agents under clinical remission. A 31-year-old patient with vasculo-BD was initially treated with a high dose of steroid and intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy. Six months later, however, the disease recurred. IFX was administered and immediately the disease activity was reduced. Fortunately, we could discontinue IFX after 18-month remission and no recurrence has been observed. Based on previous reports and our patient, all patients who could discontinue IFX sustained clinical remission for at least one year, continued taking immunosuppressive agents such as methotrexate and azathioprine, and had vascular involvements only in non-life-threatening major vessels such as leg or arm arteries/veins. This is a report suggesting the possibility of discontinuation of IFX in vasculo-BD.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1467583
spellingShingle Akihiro Nakamura
Tomoya Miyamura
Eiichi Suematsu
Successful Discontinuation of Infliximab in a Refractory Case of Vasculo-Behçet Disease
Case Reports in Rheumatology
title Successful Discontinuation of Infliximab in a Refractory Case of Vasculo-Behçet Disease
title_full Successful Discontinuation of Infliximab in a Refractory Case of Vasculo-Behçet Disease
title_fullStr Successful Discontinuation of Infliximab in a Refractory Case of Vasculo-Behçet Disease
title_full_unstemmed Successful Discontinuation of Infliximab in a Refractory Case of Vasculo-Behçet Disease
title_short Successful Discontinuation of Infliximab in a Refractory Case of Vasculo-Behçet Disease
title_sort successful discontinuation of infliximab in a refractory case of vasculo behcet disease
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1467583
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