Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of Interferon Alpha-2a and Cyclosporine-A When Combined With Glucocorticoid in the Treatment of Refractory Behçet's Uveitis: A Randomized Controlled Prospective Study

Decoding Behcet's Uveitis: an In-depth review of pathogenesis and therapeutic advances

Behcet's disease (BD) is a rare but globally distributed vasculitis that primarily affects populations in the Mediterranean and Asian regions. Behcet's uveitis (BU) is a common manifestation of BD, occurring in over two-thirds of the patients. BU is characterized by bilateral, chronic, recurrent, non-granulomatous uveitis in association with complications such as retinal ischemia and atrophy, optic atrophy, macular ischemia, macular edema, and further neovascular complications (vitreous hemorrhage, neovascular glaucoma). Although the etiology and pathogenesis of BU remain unclear, numerous studies reveal that genetic factors (such as HLA-B51), dysregulated immune responses of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, infections (such as streptococcus), and environmental factors (such as GDP) are all involved in its development. Innate immunity, including hyperactivity of neutrophils and γδT cells and elevated NK1/NK2 ratios, has been shown to play an essential role in this disease. Adaptive immune system disturbance, including homeostatic perturbations, Th1, Th17 overaction, and Treg cell dysfunction, is thought to be involved in BU pathogenesis. Treatment of BU requires a tailored approach based on the location, severity of inflammation, and systemic manifestations. The therapy aims to achieve rapid inflammation suppression, preservation of vision, and prevention of recurrence. Systemic corticosteroids combined with other immunosuppressive agents have been widely used to treat BU, and beneficial effects are observed in most patients. Recently, biologics have been shown to be effective in treating refractory BU cases. Novel therapeutic targets for treating BU include the LCK gene, Th17/Treg balance, JAK pathway inhibition, and cytokines such as IL-17 and RORγt. This article summarizes the recent studies on BU, especially in terms of pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria and classification, auxiliary examination, and treatment options. A better understanding of the significance of microbiome composition, genetic basis, and persistent immune mechanisms, as well as advancements in identifying new biomarkers and implementing objective quantitative detection of BU, may greatly contribute to improving the adequate management of BU patients.

Interferons in vitreoretinal diseases; a review on their clinical application, and mechanism of action

PURPOSE

This review investigates the therapeutic benefits of interferons (IFNs) in vitreoretinal diseases, focusing on their regulatory roles in innate immunological reactions and angiogenesis. The study aims to categorize the clinical outcomes of IFN applications and proposes a molecular mechanism underlying their action.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases to identify randomized clinical trials, case series, and case-control studies related to IFNs' impact on vitreoretinal diseases (1990-2022). The data synthesis involved an in-depth analysis of the anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenesis effects of IFNs across various studies.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that IFNs exhibit efficacy in treating inflammation-associated vitreoretinal disorders. However, a lack of sufficient evidence exists regarding the suitability of IFNs in angiogenesis-associated vitreoretinal diseases like choroidal neovascularization and diabetic retinopathies. The synthesis of data suggests that IFNs may not be optimal for managing advanced stages of angiogenesis-associated disorders.

CONCLUSION

While IFNs emerge as promising therapeutic candidates for inflammation-related vitreoretinal diseases, caution is warranted in their application for angiogenesis-associated disorders, especially in advanced stages. Further research is needed to elucidate the nuanced molecular pathways of IFN action, guiding their targeted use in specific vitreoretinal conditions.

Diagnosis and Management of Non-Infectious Uveitis in Pediatric Patients

Uveitis in children accounts for 5-10% of all cases. The causes vary considerably. Classically, uveitis is distinguished according to its infectious or inflammatory origin and whether it is part of a systemic disease or represents an isolated ocular disease. It is important to highlight the specificity of certain etiologies among children such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The development of visual function can potentially be hindered by amblyopia (children aged < 7 years), in addition to the usual complications (synechiae, macular edema) seen in adult patients. Moreover, the presentation of uveitis in children is often "silent" with few warning signs and few functional complaints from young children, which frequently leads to a substantial diagnostic delay. The diagnostic approach is guided by the presentation of the uveitis, which can be characterized by its location, and corresponds to the initial and main site of intraocular inflammation; its presentation, whether acute or chronic, granulomatous or not; and the response to treatment. Pediatricians have an important role to play and must be aware of the various presentations and etiologies of uveitis in children. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common etiology of pediatric non-infectious uveitis, but other causes must be recognized. Promptly initiated treatment before complications arise requires early diagnosis, recognition, and treatment. Any dependence on prolonged local corticosteroid therapy justifies discussing the introduction of a corticosteroid-sparing treatment considering the risk to develop corticoid-induced glaucoma and cataracts. Systemic corticosteroid therapy can be required for urgent control of inflammation in the case of severe uveitis. Long-lasting immunosuppressive treatment and biotherapies are most often prescribed at the same time to reinforce treatment efficacy and to prevent relapse and corticosteroid dependency. We review the different causes of uveitis, excluding infection, and the diagnostic and therapeutic management aimed at limiting the risk of irreversible sequelae.

Disease and Treatment-Specific Complications of Behçet Syndrome

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We aimed to highlight disease-related and treatment-related complications of Behçet syndrome (BS) based on previous and recent studies and our own experience.

RECENT FINDINGS

The Behçet's Disease Overall Damage Index is a newly developed instrument to assess damage in BS. Validation studies showed that damage is already present in some patients at diagnosis and continues to progress during the follow-up, mainly related to treatment complications. Nervous system and eye involvement are important causes of long-term disability. Cyclophosphamide seems to be associated with infertility and an increased risk of malignancies among BS patients, prompting the consideration of shortening the treatment duration. Flares in mucocutaneous manifestations have been reported with tocilizumab, and de novo BS manifestations with secukinumab therapy. Earlier diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent disease-related damage in BS. Treatment-related complications seem to be the leading cause of damage during the disease course.

Treatment with Biologic Drugs in Pediatric Behçet's Disease: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Published Data

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Behçet's disease (BD) is a variable vessel vasculitis. Biologic drugs are increasingly used in the treatment of BD. We aimed to analyze biologic drug use in the treatment of pediatric BD.

METHODS

MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus databases were searched from the inception of these databases until 15 November 2022, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Only reports presenting data of pediatric patients with BD (BD diagnosis < 18 years of age) treated with biologic drugs were included. The demographic features, clinical characteristics, and data on treatment were extracted from the included papers.

RESULTS

We included 87 articles including 187 pediatric patients with BD treated with biologic drugs (215 biologic treatments). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors (176 treatments) were the most frequently used biologic drugs followed by interferons (21 treatments). Other reported biologic treatments were anti-interleukin-1 agents (n = 11), tocilizumab (n = 4), daclizumab (n = 2), and rituximab (n = 1). The most common indication for biologic drug use was ocular involvement (93 treatments) followed by multisystem active disease (29 treatments). Monoclonal TNF-α inhibitors, adalimumab and infliximab, were preferred over etanercept in ocular and gastrointestinal BD. The improvement rates with any TNF-α inhibitor, adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept, and interferons were 78.5%, 86.1%, 63.4%, 87.5%, and 70%; respectively. The organ-specific improvement rate with TNF-α inhibitors was 76.7% and 70% for ocular and gastrointestinal system involvement. Adverse events have been reported for TNF-α inhibitors, interferons, and rituximab. Six of these were severe [TNF-α inhibitors (n = 4); interferons (n = 2)].

CONCLUSIONS

The presented systematic literature search revealed that TNF-α inhibitors followed by interferons were the most frequently used biologic drugs in pediatric BD. Both group of biologic treatments appeared to be effective and have an acceptable safety profile in pediatric BD. However, controlled studies are required for analyzing indications for biologic treatments in pediatric BD.

Risk factors, clinical features and treatment of Behçet's disease uveitis

Behçet's disease is a systemic vasculitis frequently associated with intraocular inflammation. Recent findings identified independent clinical clusters in Behçet's disease, each involving distinct combinations of affected organs. Ocular Behçet's disease, mainly manifested as uveitis, is characterized as an independent cluster with a low likelihood of association with other system involvements, such as intestinal, cardiovascular, or central nervous system. A prevailing theory suggests that the pathogenesis of the disease is multifactorial, where a variety of genetic and infectious agents may interact with each other to cause the disease. Among sporadic cases, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes, including HLA-B51, HLA-A26, HLA-B15, and HLA-B5701, have been found to be a key component conferring genetic susceptibility. Outside the HLA region, a set of susceptibility variants are identified, closely related to interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling, and pattern recognition receptor systems. Microbial infections, such as Streptococcus sanguinis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Herpes simplex virus (HSV), are linked to play the triggering of disease in immunogenetically predisposed individuals. Clinically, due to the notable relapsing-remitting course of ocular Behçet's disease, the prevention of recurrent attack would be the primary treatment goal. Combination of corticosteroids and immunomodulatory drugs, such as anti-TNF agents, interferon, and conventional immunosuppressants (e.g. cyclosporine, azathioprine), have been the mainstream regimen for the disease. Future research may focus on comparing the effectiveness of immunomodulatory drugs and identifying the most suitable subgroups for a specific drug on the basis of the knowledge of the molecular heterogeneity of the disease.

Shaping the Future of Behçet's Uveitis Management: A Comprehensive Review of Efficacy, Challenges, and Prospects of Biologic Therapies

Behçet's uveitis (BU), a vision-threatening manifestation of Behçet's disease, poses substantial management challenges due to its chronic, relapsing nature and potential for vision loss. This review explores the role of biologic therapies in the treatment of BU, providing a comprehensive overview of their effectiveness, drawbacks, and future possibilities. Traditionally, management has relied heavily on corticosteroids and conventional immunosuppressants. However, their long-term use is frequently associated with systemic side effects and insufficient control of ocular inflammation. Biologic therapies, particularly TNF-alpha inhibitors like infliximab and adalimumab, have emerged as effective alternatives, offering better disease control and a more favorable safety profile. We critically evaluated these agents, noting their clinical efficacy in reducing inflammatory flares and preserving visual acuity. Despite their benefits, several issues remain. Accessibility, cost, and lack of long-term safety data limit their widespread use. Additionally, individual variability in treatment response necessitates personalized therapeutic strategies. Recent research has shown promise in addressing these challenges, with the emergence of novel biologic agents and personalized medicine approaches. In summary, biologic therapies represent a paradigm shift in BU management, contributing to better patient outcomes. Yet, there are significant challenges to be overcome. As we move forward, continued research, development of novel biologic agents, and a precision medicine approach will shape the future landscape of BU treatment.

A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials in Uveitis: Lessons Learned

PURPOSE

Clinical trials in uveitis have led to the expansion of therapeutic options for the management of non-infectious uveitis. The purpose of this systematic review is to investigate why some clinical trials have yielded successful results and regulatory approval of new therapies, and some have not.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of the Pubmed/MEDLINE database and clinicaltrials.gov was performed from 2006 to 2021, according to the PRISMA guidelines. Phase III clinical trials of systemic and local therapies in adults with non-infectious intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis were included.

RESULTS

A total of 79 clinical trials were collected from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed/MEDLINE database search. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 clinical trials were included.

CONCLUSION

This review summarizes the study design, outcome measures, and results of recent phase III trials in non-infectious uveitis, in the interest of understanding limitations and rethinking new methods of defining endpoints in clinical trial design.

In Vitro Evaluation of Apoptosis, Inflammation, Angiogenesis, and Neuroprotection Gene Expression in Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cell Treated with Interferon α-2b

Angiogenesis, retinal neuropathy, and inflammation are the main molecular features of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and should be taken into consideration for potential treatment approaches. Retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells play a major role in DR progression. This study evaluated the in vitro effect of interferon (IFN) α-2b on the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, inflammation, neuroprotection, and angiogenesis in RPE cells. RPE cells were cocultured with IFN α-2b at 2 doses (500 and 1,000 IU) and treatment periods (24 and 48 h). The quantitative relative expression of genes (BCL-2, BAX, BDNF, VEGF, and IL-1b) was evaluated in the treated versus control cells through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The result of this study demonstrated that IFN treatment at 1,000 IU (48 h) led to significant upregulation of BCL-2, BAX, BDNF, and IL-1b; however, the BCL-2/BAX ratio was not statistically altered from 1:1, in any of the treatment patterns. We also showed that VEGF expression was downregulated in RPE cells treated with 500 IU for 24 h. It can be concluded that IFN α-2b was safe (BCL-2/BAX ∼1:1) and enhanced neuroprotection at 1,000 IU (48 h); however-at the same time-IFN α-2b induced inflammation in RPE cells. Moreover, the antiangiogenic effect of IFN α-2b was solely observed in RPE cells treated with 500 IU (24 h). It seems that IFN α-2b in lower doses and short duration exerts antiangiogenic effects and in higher doses and longer duration has neuroprotective and inflammatory effects. Hence, appropriate concentration and duration of treatment, according to the type and stage of the disease, should be considered to achieve success in IFN therapy.

Current pharmacological solutions for Behçet's syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Behçet's syndrome (BS) has a heterogeneous clinical phenotype, and its clinical manifestations may respond differently to drugs commonly used to treat BS. The type, dose, and duration of immunomodulatory, immunosuppressive, and biologic agents should be tailored individually.

AREAS COVERED

We reviewed the literature for articles on BS management that were published until June 2022 and summarized the management options in BS for each type of organ involvement. We aimed to cover all currently available pharmacological agents used in BS, as well as surgical and interventional options, focusing on recent evidence.

EXPERT OPINION

The management aims in BS are to preserve function and quality of life and to avoid damage. The choice of treatment modalities depends on the organs that are actively involved, the severity of that involvement, and prognostic factors. A treat-to-attack strategy would help improve long-term outcomes in BS.

Treatment Options in Pediatric Behçet's Disease

Behçet's disease is a rare and poorly understood vasculitis affecting blood vessels of all types and sizes. Uveitis and oral and genital ulcers represent the typical clinical triad. Populations along the ancient trading route connecting the Mediterranean basin with the Middle and Far East are most affected. Up to a quarter of the cases has a pediatric onset, typically around puberty. The aim of the treatment is early intervention to control inflammation, with symptom relief and prevention of relapses, damage, and complications. The heterogeneous clinical presentation often requires a multidisciplinary and tailored approach. Ocular, neurological, gastrointestinal, and vascular involvement is associated with a worse prognosis and needs more aggressive treatments. In young patients with expected prolonged disease, treatment should also focus on preventive measures and lifestyle advice. In recent years, the pharmacological armamentarium has grown progressively, although only a limited number of drugs are currently authorized for pediatric use. Most evidence for these drugs still derives from adult studies and experience; these are prescribed as off-label medications and are only available as adult formulations. Corticosteroids frequently represent the mainstay for the management of the initial acute phases, but their potential serious adverse effects limit their use to short periods. Different conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs have long been used. Many other biologic drugs targeting different cytokines such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and interleukin-17 and treatments with small molecules including the phosphodiesterase 4 and Janus kinase inhibitors are emerging as novel promising therapeutic agents. In recent years, a growing interest has developed around anti-tumor necrosis factor agents that have often proven to be effective in severe cases, especially in those with a gastrointestinal and ocular involvement.

Uveitis in Behçet disease - an update

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Uveitis is a major manifestation of Behçet disease (BD) and potentially has a high morbidity. This article reviews recently published data on BD uveitis.

RECENT FINDINGS

A set of classification criteria and a diagnostic algorithm have been developed for BD uveitis. Recent reports have confirmed male predominance and posterior segment inflammation in the majority of BD uveitis patients. A high uveitis attack severity score, fluorescein angiographic leakage at the posterior pole, and disruption of outer retinal layers on optical coherence tomography (OCT) predict poor visual outcome. OCT-angiography studies have suggested subclinical changes of retinal capillaries in patients with or without ocular involvement. In a randomized controlled trial, interferon-α was superior to cyclosporine. Favorable outcomes were reported with earlier initiation, optimization, and withdrawal of infliximab after remission. Adalimumab as first-line was superior to conventional therapy.

SUMMARY

Classification criteria will be used to select a homogeneous group of patients for research and the diagnostic algorithm may help ophthalmologists predict the probability of BD uveitis based on ocular findings. Fluorescein angiography and OCT are the routine imaging modalities. Clinical relevance of OCT-angiography is unclear. Interferon-α, infliximab, and adalimumab have proven superior efficacy compared to conventional therapy.