The Presence of Uveitis Is Associated with a Sustained Response to the Interleukin (IL)-1 Inhibitors Anakinra and Canakinumab in Behçet's Disease

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2020;28(2):298-304. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2018.1511810. Epub 2018 Aug 27.

Abstract

Purpose: To identify factors associated with sustained response to interleukin (IL)-1 inhibition among demographic, clinical and therapeutic data in patients with Behçet disease (BD).Methods: BD patients treated with anakinra or canakinumab were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to the clinical response: group 1 included subjects showing a treatment duration of at least 52 weeks and no secondary inefficacy during the first follow-up year; the remaining patients were included in the group 2. Demographic, clinical and therapeutic data were analyzed to identify significant differences between groups.Results: Eighteen patients were included in group 1 and 18 patients in group 2. A better response to IL-1 inhibitors was significantly more common among patients with BD-related uveitis (p = 0.006) and patients with a longer disease duration (p = 0.03).Conclusion: IL-1 blockade is effective in BD, especially in the subset of patients presenting eye involvement and in those with long-lasting disease.

Keywords: Anakinra; biologics; canakinumab; treatment; uveitis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology*
  • Antirheumatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Behcet Syndrome / complications
  • Behcet Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Behcet Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Uveitis / diagnosis
  • Uveitis / drug therapy*
  • Uveitis / etiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein
  • Interleukin-1
  • canakinumab