Behcet’s uveitis – gevokizumabn

Behçet’s disease commonly affects adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s, and is characterised by vasculitis, a chronic inflammation of the blood vessels. The neurological, pulmonary, cardio-vascular and gastrointestinal systems can all be affected, and patients commonly suffer from painful mouth and genital ulcers. It is particularly common in people from the eastern Mediterranean countries and Turkey, Korea and Japan.

It causes severe non-infectious uveitis in about half of all patients, with recurrent acute attacks, and if not treated rapidly, it can lead to detached retina, vitreous haemorrhage, glaucoma and blindness. Symptoms include vitreous haze that can cause complete loss of vision during an exacerbation. Treatments are limited, and include corticosteroids and off-label immunosuppressants, but significant side-effects are common.