Infliximab Monotherapy Versus Infliximab and Colchicine Combination Therapy in Patients with Behcet's Disease

Purpose: To compare infliximab monotherapy with infliximab and colchicine combination therapy in Behcet's disease. Methods: Clinical records of 14 Behcet's disease patients who were administered infliximab with or without colchicine were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who were given other immunosuppresants after initiation of infliximab therapy were excluded. The frequency of ocular attacks and best-corrected visual acuity were investigated. Results: Seven patients received monotherapy and 7 received combination therapy. The mean frequency of ocular attacks significantly decreased from 2.14 to 0.22 per 6 months in monotherapy group and from 2.57 to 0.18 per 6 months in combination therapy group. No significant difference was observed between both groups in the frequency of ocular attacks and in changes in best-corrected visual acuity during 0 to 24 months. Conclusions: Infliximab is as efficacious as infliximab and colchicines together in Behcet's disease treatment. This study suggests that colchicine administration is not necessary in Behcet's disease patients receiving infliximab.