Researchers found that infliximab, a monoclonal antibody, was more effective than the treatment usually given to people with Behçet syndrome.
- Taking infliximab, a monoclonal antibody, combined with usual corticosteroid therapy, would be more effective than the usual treatment: corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.
- 81% of patients who took infliximab had a complete response to treatment, compared to 56% for those in the second group.
- The risk of relapse was also reduced (16 and 4% respectively) as well as side effects (30 and 64%).
Currently, Behçet’s disease is incurable. The treatments offered to patients who suffer from it – mainly corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants – only help to relieve the symptoms.
Better response to treatment with monoclonal antibody
In a new study, published in the journal New England Journal of Medicine Evidenceresearchers from Inserm, AP-HP and Sorbonne University, have perhaps found a new treatment, more effective than that usually administered: corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. During their work, they compared their effectiveness to that of another drug, a monoclonal antibody called infliximab, in patients with Behçet’s disease.
For this, in addition to the usual corticosteroid therapy, the scientists therefore gave 26 participants infliximab. Another 26 patients received standard treatment (corticosteroid therapy with cyclophosphamide, an immunosuppressant). All suffered from Behçet’s disease with significant vascular damage or damage to their central nervous system.
The results obtained are encouragingfor patients who received infliximab in addition to the usual corticosteroid therapy:
- 81% received a complete response
- The risk of relapse was reduced by 16%
- 30% side effects
On the other hand, corticosteroid therapy with cyclophosphamide showed less effectiveness:
- 56% received a complete response
- The risk of relapse was reduced by 4%
- 64% side effects
“The results of this trial show the benefit of combining corticosteroid therapy with infliximab in the treatment of severe central arterial and neurological damage of the disease, can we read in the press release. These very encouraging results could indeed modify the management if they are confirmed in the longer term.“
Infliximab could become the new treatment for Behçet’s disease
Behçet’s disease is a chronic inflammation of the blood vessels, also called vasculitis. People who suffer from it have symptoms of oral, genital, or skin lesions, in 25 to 75% of them depending on the MSD Manualeye problems. The nervous system, digestive tract and joints can also be affected by inflammation.