| Presentation preference | Oral presentation |
| Title | Long-term effectiveness and safety of Biologic Therapy in Behçet's uveitis: our experience |
| Accept poster if oral is not possible ? | Yes |
| Purpose | To assess the long-term effectiveness and safety of Biologic Therapy for the treatment of severe and refractory Behçet's uveitis. |
| Methods | Retrospective cohort of patients with severe and refractory Behçet’s uveitis who received Biologic therapy with Interferon (IFN) Alpha-2a, Infliximab or Adalimumab between 2003 and 2019. Relapse-free interval during and after the discontinuation of treatment and adverse effects were recorded. |
| Results | Forty-two patients were included. 25 out of 42 (59.5%) were treated with IFN Alpha-2a, 13 (31%) with Infliximab and 4 (9,5%) with Adalimumab. The mean age at initiation of treatment was 31±11 years, and the mean(± SD) treatment duration was 27.2±22.2 months. Uveitis relapse rate was 23.8%. The relapse-free interval during treatment was 15±10.9 months. The treatment was discontinued for disease remission in 22 out of 42 patients (52,4%). The relapse-free interval after treatment discontinuation was 23.8±30.9 months. Four patients had treatment side effects, without serious adverse events. |
| Conclusion | Biologic Therapy was effective to induce long-term remission of Behçet's uveitis and was generally well tolerated without serious adverse events. |
| Conflict of interest | No |
Author 1
| Last name | DE SIMONE |
| Initials of first name(s) | L |
| Department | Ocular Immunology Unit , Azienda USL-IRCCS |
| City | Reggio Emilia |
| Country | Italy |
Author 2
| Last name | MASTROFILIPPO |
| Initials of first name(s) | V |
| Department | Ocular Immunology Unit , Azienda USL-IRCCS |
| City | Reggio Emilia |
| Country | Italy |
Author 3
| Last name | MARVISI |
| Initials of first name(s) | C |
| Department | Rheumatology Unit , University of Modena and Reggio Emilia |
| City | Modena |
| Country | Italy |
Author 4
| Last name | BOLLETTA |
| Initials of first name(s) | E |
| Department | Ocular Immunology Unit , Azienda USL-IRCCS |
| City | Reggio Emilia |
| Country | Italy |
Author 5
| Last name | GOZZI |
| Initials of first name(s) | F |
| Department | Ocular Immunology Unit , Azienda USL-IRCCS |
| City | Reggio Emilia |
| Country | Italy |
Author 6
| Last name | SALVARANI |
| Initials of first name(s) | C |
| Department | Division of Rheumatology , Azienda USL-IRCCS |
| City | Reggio Emilia |
| Country | Italy |
Author 7
| Last name | CIMINO |
| Initials of first name(s) | L |
| Department | Ocular Immunology Unit , Azienda USL-IRCCS |
| City | Reggio Emilia |
| Country | Italy |
