Comparisons of Clinical Features in Japanese Patients with Behçet's Uveitis Treated in the 1990s and the 2000s

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2020;28(2):262-269. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2018.1559928. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Abstract

Purpose: We investigated clinical characteristics of ocular Behçet's disease (BD) patients treated in the 1990s and the 2000s.Methods: We retrospectively examined records of 68 newly arrived patients with ocular BD followed for more than 4 months during the 2000s and compared to those of 107 patients during the 1990s. Patient profiles, ocular and systemic symptoms, frequency of ocular attacks, BD ocular attack score 24-6 months (BOS24-6M), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and immunomodulatory treatment were noted.Results: Clinical characteristics in the 2000s showed increases in iridocyclitis type, intestinal-, vasculo-, and neuro-BD cases, oral corticosteroid, methotrexate, and infliximab therapy usage, cataract and glaucoma surgery, and pseudophakia, and decreases in BOS24-6M and cyclophosphamide usage. BCVA of 20/30 or better at the final visit was slightly increased in the 2000s.Conclusions: Milder ocular BD tendency was seen in cases in the 2000s, whereas the incidence of special type of BD might be increasing.

Keywords: BOS24; Behçet’s disease; iridocyclitis type; milder disease; uveitis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Behcet Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Behcet Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Behcet Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Disease Management*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Forecasting*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / methods*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Morbidity / trends
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Uveitis / diagnosis*
  • Uveitis / drug therapy
  • Uveitis / epidemiology
  • Visual Acuity*

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents