Azathioprine-steroid combination therapy for pulmonary arterial aneurysms in Behcet's disease

ACICAN T., Gurkan O.

RHEUMATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, cilt.20, sa.4, ss.171-174, 2001 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 20 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2001
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s002960100102
  • Dergi Adı: RHEUMATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.171-174
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: behcet's disease, pulmonary material aneurysms, azathioprine therapy, CT FINDINGS, VASCULITIS
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Vasculitis is the primary pathological feature of Behcet's disease and in which pulmonary arterial aneurysm formations are rare but serious complications representing poor prognosis. There is no agreement on how to treat major venous and arterial disease. The use of steroids alone or corticosteroid treatment supplemented with cyclophosphamide or azathioprine is still controversial. We present three young male patients with Behcet's disease with aneurysms in the pulmonary arteries. In two of them, cyclophosphamide was the first choice of treatment, but this was ceased due to side effects. All three patients were then treated with azathioprine (2 mg/kg per day) and methylprednisolone (1.5 mg/kg per day). All three showed clinical improvement. Regression was observed radiologically in two tone minimal and the other complete). No complication related to therapy was encountered. Steroid therapy supplemented with azathioprine may be a good choice for treatment of pulmonary arterial aneurysms in Behcet's disease.