Long-term remission of ocular and extraocular manifestations in Behçet's disease using infliximab.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term effect of infliximab on ocular and extraocular manifestations in patients with Behçet's disease.

Methods: Seven patients with active Behçet's disease and treated with infliximab at Aichi Medical University Hospital for more than 18 months were included in the study. We evaluated visual acuity, the average number of uveitis attacks involving the posterior segment, and general disease activity every 2 months.

Cataract Surgery in Behçet's Disease Patients One Week after Infliximab Administration.

Purpose: To describe two patients with Behçet's disease who underwent cataract surgery one week after infliximab administration.

Methods: Patients received preoperative antibiotic therapy with 0.5% levofloxacin eye drops and 500 mg levofloxacin oral tablets, followed by cataract surgery one week after infliximab administration.

Effect of infliximab on tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced alterations in retinal microvascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) may disrupt the extracellular matrix components comprising the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) in patients with posterior uveitis, such as Behçet's disease. We investigated changes in the mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in human BRB cells in the presence of TNF-α in vitro and examined the effect of infliximab addition.

Methods: Cells were cultured in the presence or absence of TNF-α, and TNF-α-exposed cells were treated with or without infliximab.