The efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α antibody therapy in the treatment of intestinal Behçet's disease (BD) is under active clinical investigation. Here, we analyzed the endoscopic findings in patients with intestinal BD and investigated the therapeutic effects of anti-TNF-α antibody therapy in them.
In this study, at 52 weeks there were five patients in the remission group and three in the non-remission group. Therefore, the remission rate at 52 weeks was 62.5%. The clinical remission rates at 14 weeks were as follows: 80% in the remission group and 100% in the non-remission group. Endoscopic findings in the remission group were characterized by the presence of diffuse shallow ulcers of <20-mm diameter. Aphthous-type ulcers were recognized in 80% of the patients in the remission group. Endoscopic findings in the non-remission group were characterized by the presence of deep ulcers of >20-mm diameter. Volcano-type ulcers were recognized in 66.7% of the patients in the non-remission group.
Endoscopic findings may be predictive of the response to anti-TNF-α antibody therapy. In particular, in the cases of intestinal BD with deep volcano-type ulcers of diameter ≥ 20 mm, relapses occur often even after clinical remission and require careful follow-up including colonoscopy.
