TNF and anti-TNF agents in Behçet's disease

Excerpt

The rapid response and effectiveness of anti-TNF agents in the treatment of many immune mediated inflammatory disorders draws comparison to the response of rheumatoid arthritis to cortisone, first witnessed over 50 years ago by Philip Hench and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic. It is now known that many of the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids are due to their inhibition of TNF production. A new dimension of efficacy is possible with TNF agents, however, in that inhibition of disease progression is now possible. Might these agents be considered the corticosteroids of the new millennium? Like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, Behçet's disease is believed to be associated with a Th1-mediated immune response. Increased levels of TNF-α are found in Behçet's disease and has provided support for the empiric use of anti-TNF-α therapies used in a number of published cases and small case series. …