Effect of infliximab on sight-threatening panuveitis in Behçet's disease

Summary Permanent loss of vision resulting from relapsing ocular inflammation occurs frequently in patients with Behcet's disease, despite intensive, chronic immunosuppressive therapy. Since tumour necrosis factor (TNF) might have an important pathogenetic role in Behcet's disease, we decided to give a single infusion of infliximab—a monoclonal antibody against TNF—to five patients with relapsing panuveitis, at the immediate onset of last relapse. Remission of ocular inflammation was evident within the first 24 h, and complete suppression was seen 7 days after treatment in all patients. No side-effects were noted. We suggest that infliximab is a rapid and effective new therapy for sight-threatening ocular inflammation in Behcet's disease.