Shunsei Hirohata1, Hirotoshi Kikuchi2, Tetsuji Sawada3, Hiroko Nagafuchi4, Masataka Kuwana5, Mitsuhiro Takeno6, Yoshiaki Ishigatsubo6. 1. Department of Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. Electronic address: shunsei_tenpoint@yahoo.co.jp. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. 3. Department of Internal Medicine 3, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. 6. Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Chronic progressive neuro-Behcet's disease (CPNBD) is characterized by progressive deterioration leading to disability and death. Although methotrexate has been found effective for CPNBD, its influences on the long-term outcome remain unclear. We therefore explored the effects of various treatments on the prognosis. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients, who met the international classification criteria for BD and developed chronic progressive neuropsychiatric manifestations after 1988, were followed up until October 2013. The effects of various treatments on prevention of death or severe disability of bedridden state were examined by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox's proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 37 patients with CPNBD (75.7%) received methotrexate. Among the 28 patients, none died and only 5 patients progressed to disability with bedridden state. By contrast, among the 9 patients without methotrexate, 5 patients died and 3 patients progressed to bedridden state. Thus, methotrexate significantly improved the survival of patients with CPNBD (HR 0.0507, p=0.020) as well as reduced the rate of progression into bedridden state or death (HR 0.2082, p=0.0126), but none of high doses of steroids, azathioprine or cyclophosphamide did. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that methotrexate, but not high doses of steroids, azathioprine or cyclophosphamide, is effective to prevent the progression of CPNBD.
OBJECTIVES: Chronic progressive neuro-Behcet's disease (CPNBD) is characterized by progressive deterioration leading to disability and death. Although methotrexate has been found effective for CPNBD, its influences on the long-term outcome remain unclear. We therefore explored the effects of various treatments on the prognosis. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients, who met the international classification criteria for BD and developed chronic progressive neuropsychiatric manifestations after 1988, were followed up until October 2013. The effects of various treatments on prevention of death or severe disability of bedridden state were examined by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox's proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 37 patients with CPNBD (75.7%) received methotrexate. Among the 28 patients, none died and only 5 patients progressed to disability with bedridden state. By contrast, among the 9 patients without methotrexate, 5 patients died and 3 patients progressed to bedridden state. Thus, methotrexate significantly improved the survival of patients with CPNBD (HR 0.0507, p=0.020) as well as reduced the rate of progression into bedridden state or death (HR 0.2082, p=0.0126), but none of high doses of steroids, azathioprine or cyclophosphamide did. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that methotrexate, but not high doses of steroids, azathioprine or cyclophosphamide, is effective to prevent the progression of CPNBD.
Authors: Seung Woo Kim; Tae Gyun Kim; Jongwook Oh; Do Young Kim; Young Chul Choi; Seung Min Kim; Ha Young Shin; Dongsik Bang Journal: J Clin Neurol Date: 2019-10 Impact factor: 3.077