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Lopalco G, Rigante D, Lopalco A, Emmi G, Venerito V, Vitale A, Capozio G, Denora N, Cantarini L, Iannone F. Safety of systemic treatments for Behçet's syndrome. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2020; 19:1269-1301. [PMID: 32883123 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2020.1817379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Treatment of Behçet's syndrome (BS) is aimed at controlling all symptoms of such a complex disorder, ensuring a good quality of life and preventing life-threatening complications. A better understanding of the pathogenic role of different chemokines has improved our knowledge of BS and elicited a more specific use of therapies currently available, minimizing the burden of potential side-effects related to treatment. AREAS COVERED This work aims to provide a detailed overview of the safety profile for current therapies available in the treatment of BS, focusing on the main side-effects, toxicity and contraindications. EXPERT OPINION The greatest experience in the management of BS has been achieved with the employment of monoclonal anti-tumor necrosis factor antibodies which have been advocated for BS refractory manifestations. Moreover, interleukin-1 inhibitors have proven to be effective as well as safe, despite escalation of their dosage, especially to manage the most severe and difficult-to-treat ocular manifestations. However, general treatment of BS patients remains awkward as protean clinical features may respond differently to the same treatment or even worsen. Therefore, patients' safety for therapies used in BS promotes the implementation of precision medicine, which could help targeting accurately the pathogenetic mechanisms concealed behind specific clinical phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lopalco
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Rheumatology Unit, University of Bari , Bari, Italy
| | - Donato Rigante
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS , Rome, Italy.,Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore , Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Lopalco
- Department of Pharmacy - Drug Sciences, University of Bari , Bari, Italy
| | - Giacomo Emmi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence , Florence, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Venerito
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Rheumatology Unit, University of Bari , Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Vitale
- Research Centre of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases, Behçet's Disease Clinic and Rheumatology-Ophthalmology Collaborative Uveitis Centre, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena , Siena, Italy
| | - Giovanna Capozio
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS , Rome, Italy
| | - Nunzio Denora
- Department of Pharmacy - Drug Sciences, University of Bari , Bari, Italy
| | - Luca Cantarini
- Research Centre of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases, Behçet's Disease Clinic and Rheumatology-Ophthalmology Collaborative Uveitis Centre, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena , Siena, Italy
| | - Florenzo Iannone
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Rheumatology Unit, University of Bari , Bari, Italy
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Abstract
Behçet's syndrome (BS) is a complex disease that shows important heterogeneity in clinical findings and physiopathology. Its treatment can be problematic as BS manifestations in different organs may respond differently to the same drug. The cornerstone of therapy for inducing remission is corticosteroids whereas immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive agents such as colchicine, azathioprine, cyclosporine-A, interferon-alpha, and cyclophosphamide are used as steroid-sparing agents and to prevent further relapses. However, a considerable number of patients continue to have mucocutaneous lesions despite therapy, and some patients require more aggressive treatment for refractory major organ involvement. Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors, especially infliximab and adalimumab, are increasingly used for various refractory BS manifestations despite the lack of controlled studies. In this review, we aim to focus on both the traditional and new treatment modalities for BS, with more emphasis on recent data on newer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinem Nihal Esatoglu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, 34098, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gulen Hatemi
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, 34098, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Vitale A, Rigante D, Lopalco G, Emmi G, Bianco MT, Galeazzi M, Iannone F, Cantarini L. New therapeutic solutions for Behçet's syndrome. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2016; 25:827-40. [PMID: 27163156 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2016.1181751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Behçet's syndrome (BS) is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by a wide range of potential clinical manifestations with no gold-standard therapy. However, the recent classification of BS at a crossroads between autoimmune and autoinflammatory syndromes has paved the way to new further therapeutic opportunities in addition to anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. AREAS COVERED This review provides a digest of all current experience and evidence about pharmacological agents recently described as having a role in the treatment of BS, including interleukin (IL)-1 inhibitors, tocilizumab, rituximab, alemtuzumab, ustekinumab, interferon-alpha-2a, and apremilast. EXPERT OPINION IL-1 inhibitors currently represent the most studied agents among the latest treatment options for BS, proving to be effective, safe and with an acceptable retention on treatment. However, since BS is a peculiar disorder with clinical features responding to certain treatments that in turn can worsen other manifestations, identifying new treatment options for patients unresponsive to the current drug armamentarium is of great relevance. A number of agents have been studied in the last decade showing changing fortunes in some cases and promising results in others. The latter will potentially provide their contribution for better clinical management of BS, improving patients' quality of life and long-term outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Vitale
- a Research Center of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases and Behçet's Disease Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences , University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | - Donato Rigante
- b Institute of Pediatrics , Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario 'A. Gemelli' , Rome , Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lopalco
- c Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit , University of Bari Aldo Moro , Bari , Italy
| | - Giacomo Emmi
- d Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Bianco
- e Pharmacy Unit , Siena University Hospital 'Santa Maria alle Scotte' , Siena , Italy
| | - Mauro Galeazzi
- a Research Center of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases and Behçet's Disease Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences , University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | - Florenzo Iannone
- c Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit , University of Bari Aldo Moro , Bari , Italy
| | - Luca Cantarini
- a Research Center of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases and Behçet's Disease Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences , University of Siena , Siena , Italy
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Kivity S, Katz U, Daniel N, Nussinovitch U, Papageorgiou N, Shoenfeld Y. Evidence for the use of intravenous immunoglobulins--a review of the literature. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2010; 38:201-69. [PMID: 19590986 PMCID: PMC7101816 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-009-8155-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) were first introduced in the middle of the twentieth century for the treatment of primary immunodeficiencies. In 1981, Paul Imbach noticed an improvement of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, in patients receiving IVIg for immunodeficiencies. This opened a new era for the treatment of autoimmune conditions with IVIg. Since then, IVIg has become an important treatment option in a wide spectrum of diseases, including autoimmune and acute inflammatory conditions, most of them off-label (not included in the US Food and Drug Administration recommendation). A panel of immunologists and internists with experience in IVIg therapy reviewed the medical literature for published data concerning treatment with IVIg. The quality of evidence was assessed, and a summary of the available relevant literature in each disease was given. To our knowledge, this is the first all-inclusive comprehensive review, developed to assist the clinician when considering the use of IVIg in autoimmune diseases, immune deficiencies, and other conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaye Kivity
- Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
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Steinbrecher A, Berlit P. Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in vasculitis and connective tissue disorders. J Neurol 2006; 253 Suppl 5:V39-49. [PMID: 16998753 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-006-5006-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Vasculitis syndromes and connective tissue disorders are heterogeneous and mostly rare multisystem disorders with various autoimmune mechanisms driving tissue inflammation and remodeling, ischemic and hemorrhagic tissue damage. While the nervous system can be affected by most of these diseases, the pathogenesis for neural involvement is often ambiguous and elusive for the clinician. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) have been used for the treatment of most of these disorders. However, a thorough review of the literature indicates that the role for IVIG has to be discussed for individual entities, has often only anecdotal evidence, and is particularly hard to define with respect to neurological manifestations. This review gathers the available evidence on the efficacy of IVIG in neurologically relevant rheumatic diseases, leading to recommendations for their clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Steinbrecher
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 84, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
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Cianferoni A, Schroeder JT, Kim J, Schmidt JW, Lichtenstein LM, Georas SN, Casolaro V. Selective inhibition of interleukin-4 gene expression in human T cells by aspirin. Blood 2001; 97:1742-9. [PMID: 11238116 DOI: 10.1182/blood.v97.6.1742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies indicated that aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid [ASA]) can have profound immunomodulatory effects by regulating cytokine gene expression in several types of cells. This study is the first in which concentrations of ASA in the therapeutic range were found to significantly reduce interleukin (IL)-4 secretion and RNA expression in freshly isolated and mitogen-primed human CD4+ T cells. In contrast, ASA did not affect IL-13, interferon-gamma, and IL-2 expression. ASA inhibited IL-4, but not IL-2, promoter-driven chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression in transiently transfected Jurkat T cells. The structurally unrelated nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs indomethacin and flurbiprofen did not affect cytokine gene expression in T cells, whereas the weak cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor salicylic acid was at least as effective as ASA in inhibiting IL-4 expression and promoter activity. The inhibitory effect of ASA on IL-4 transcription was not mediated by decreased nuclear expression of the known salicylate target nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB and was accompanied by reduced binding of an inducible factor to an IL-4 promoter region upstream of, but not overlapping, the NF of activated T cells- and NF-kappaB-binding P1 element. It is concluded that anti-inflammatory salicylates, by means of a previously unrecognized mechanism of action, can influence the nature of adaptive immune responses by selectively inhibiting the expression of IL-4, a critical effector of these responses, in CD4+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cianferoni
- Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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