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Successful Treatment of Behcet Disease with Pentoxifylline
- Kozo Yasui, MD;
- Kouichi Ohta, MD;
- Masakazu Kobayashi, MD;
- Toru Aizawa, MD; and
- Atsushi Komiyama, MD
Behcet disease is a chronic condition that is common in Japan and the countries on the Mediterranean Sea. Its cause is still unknown, but its occurrence is strongly associated with HLA-B51 antigen. Neutrophil motility and superoxide production are characteristically increased in patients with Behcet disease.
Pentoxifylline is a membrane fluidizer that modulates receptor-mediated cellular functions [1]. It also modulates neutrophil motility, suppresses production of superoxide anion (O2−), and reduces neutrophil-induced tissue damage [1, 2].
We examined the effect of pentoxifylline in controlling Behcet disease. We administered 600 mg of pentoxifylline per day, in two doses, to three male patients and observed the subsequent changes in clinical symptoms and neutrophil functions. All patients gave informed consent.
Case Reports
All three patients had eye involvements specific to Behcet disease. We administered pentoxifylline, 600 mg per day, for 2 weeks and then continued pentoxifylline therapy at a total daily dosage of 300 mg. None of the patients had side effects that could be attributed to pentoxifylline.
Patient 1
A 35-year-old man who was positive for HLA-B51 antigen had had oral and genital ulcers for 5 years and low-grade iritis for 2 years. He had a …
