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Ann Rheum Dis doi:10.1136/ard.2008.087957

Management of Behçet’s disease: a systematic literature review for the EULAR evidence based Recommendations for the management of Behçet’s disease

  1. G Hatemi (gulenhatemi{at}yahoo.com)
  1. Rheumatology Division, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Turkey
    1. A Silman (alan.silman{at}manchester.ac.uk)
    1. Epidemiology Unit, Manchester University, Manchester, United Kingdom
      1. D Bang (dbang{at}yumc.yonsei.ac.kr)
      1. Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea, Republic of
        1. B Bodaghi (bahram.bodaghi{at}psl.ap-hop-paris.fr)
        1. Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, France
          1. A M Chamberlain (rrr6mac{at}south-01.novell.leeds.ac.uk)
          1. Rehabilitation Unit, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
            1. A Gül (agul{at}istanbul.edu.tr)
            1. Rheumatology Division, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Turkey
              1. M H Houman (houman.habib{at}rns.tn)
              1. Hospital La Rabta, Tunisia
                1. I Kötter (ina.koetter{at}med.uni-tuebingen.de)
                1. Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
                  1. I Olivieri (i.olivieri{at}ospedalesancarlo.it)
                  1. Department of Rheumatology, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza, Italy
                    1. C Salvarani (carlo.salvarani{at}asmn.re.it)
                    1. Department of Rheumatology, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy
                      1. P P Sfikakis (psfikakis{at}med.uoa.gr)
                      1. Athens University Medical School, Greece
                        1. A Siva (asiva{at}turk.net)
                        1. Department of Neurology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Turkey
                          1. M R Stanford (miles.stanford{at}kcl.ac.uk)
                          1. stthomas hospital, United Kingdom
                            1. N Stübiger (n.stuebiger{at}fh-wolfenbuettel.de)
                            1. Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
                              1. S Yurdakul (profsyurdakul{at}yahoo.com)
                              1. Rheumatology Division, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Turkey
                                1. H Yazici (hyazici{at}attglobal.net)
                                1. Rheumatology Division, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Turkey
                                  • Published Online First 17 April 2008

                                  Abstract

                                  Objectives: To present and analyze the literature sources regarding the management of Behçet’s disease (BD) identified during the systematic literature research, which formed the basis for the EULAR evidence based recommendations for the management of BD.

                                  Methods: Problem areas and related keywords regarding the management of BD were determined by the multidisciplinary expert committee commissioned by EULAR for developing the recommendations. Systematic literature research was performed using MedLine and Cochrane library through December 2006. Meta analyses, systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCT), open studies, observational studies, case control studies, case series involving ≥5 patients were included. For each intervention the effect size and number needed to treat were calculated for efficacy. Odds ratios and number needed to harm were calculated for safety issues of different treatment modalities where possible.

                                  Results: The literature research yielded 137 articles, which met the inclusion criteria. Twenty of these were randomized contrrolled trials (RCTs). There was good evidence supporting the use of azathioprine and cyclosporine A in eye involvement and interferon-α in mucocutaneous involvement. There were no RCTs with interferon-α or TNF-α antagonists in eye involvement. Similarly controlled data for the management of vascular, gastrointestinal and neurological involvement is lacking.

                                  Conclusion: Properly designed controlled studies, both new and confirmatory, are still needed to guide us in managing BD.

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                                    1. ard.2008.087957v1
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