Successful treatment of Behcet disease with pentoxifylline
Article Abstract:
Pentoxifylline may prove to be effective in treating patients with Behcet's disease. Doctors treated three patients with Behcet's disease with pentoxifylline for two weeks and evaluated the effects of treatment on the patients' vision, disease symptoms, neutrophil activity, and superoxide levels up to nine months following treatment. Elevated neutrophil activity and superoxide levels indicate possible small vessel injury. Pentoxifylline treatment improved the vision of the two patients with previously impaired vision. Other symptoms such as fever and mouth and genital ulcers disappeared following treatment. Neutrophil activity and superoxide levels returned to normal levels following treatment. Before treatment neutrophil activity ranged from 118% to 124% of normal and superoxide levels were 2.5 to four times higher than normal. There were no major side effects reported with this treatment.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1996
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Behcet disease and the emergence of thalidomide
Article Abstract:
Thalidomide may be useful in treating Behcet disease but its use should be limited to those patients with a definitive diagnosis. Behcet disease is characterized by recurring ulcers in the mouth, genitals, skin and eyes. However, other diseases can have similar presentations. Behcet disease is rare in the US but more frequent in Japan, China, Korea and Mediterranean countries. Thalidomide was reported to be successful for this condition in 1979 but symptoms can recur when the drug is discontinued. The drug also has other side effects besides its well-known effects on the fetus.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1998
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Genetics of familial Mediterranean fever and its implications
Article Abstract:
Three gene mutations have been identified that are linked to familial Mediterranean fever. This condition is characterized by fever, abdominal pain, arthritis and a lung disease called pleurisy. Its symptoms were first described in 1945 and many cases were found only in residents of the Middle East. The disease is common among Sephardic Jews but rare among Ashkenazi Jews. The reason for this became clear in 1998 when the gene mutations were reported. One is found predominantly in Sephardic Jews, but none are found in Ashkenazi Jews.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1998
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