[Clinical efficacy of adalimumab for a postoperative marginal ulcer in gastrointestinal Behçet disease]

Nihon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi. 2012 May;109(5):774-80.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 63-year-old woman with Behçet disease presented with epigastric pain due to refractory gastric ulcers. Examinations indicated that these ulcers were caused by gastrointestinal Behçet disease. Steroid therapy proved ineffective, so we gave 5mg/kg of infliximab. However, since the patient responded poorly to the treatment the infliximab was discontinued and a total gastrectomy was performed. After surgery, a marginal ulcer developed and infliximab was again administered. Although this brought about improvement in the conditions of the marginal ulcer, infusion-related hypersensitivities in the patient caused polyarthralgia. We therefore discontinued the infliximab treatment and began 40 mg of adalimumab every other week. After 3 months of the new treatment, the patient's marginal ulcer completely healed and her epigastric pain disappeared. This case suggests that adalimumab may be as useful as infliximab for treating refractory gastrointestinal Behçet disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adalimumab
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Behcet Syndrome / surgery*
  • Female
  • Gastrectomy
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptic Ulcer / drug therapy*
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Adalimumab