Treatment Impact on the Long-Term Ocular Outcomes in Behçet's-Related Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To examine the demographic characteristics, findings and complication rates in patients with Behçet's uveitis (BU) and to investigate the effect of early biological therapy on the development of complications.

METHODS

Medical records of 94 patients with BU were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, ocular findings and complications at presentation, complications during follow-up, and treatments received during follow-up were analyzed. Patients who were followed for at least 24 months were divided into two groups according to the time of presentation as Group 1 (between 2009 and 2015) and Group 2 (between 2016 and 2021). Complications at the time of presentation and during follow-up, and treatments were compared.

RESULTS

We enrolled 94 patients with a male-to-female ratio of 1.94 with a mean age of 30 ± 12 years. Median follow-up was 58.1(12-163) months. There were 35 patients (66 eyes) in Group 1 and 33 patients (61 eyes) in Group 2. At the time of presentation, end-stage disease, cataract, epiretinal membrane, and optic atrophy were significantly more common in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). A significantly higher proportion of eyes in Group 1 developed macular edema, cataract, epiretinal membrane, and macular atrophy during-follow-up (p < 0.05). Median time to initiation of biological treatment was 17.29 months in Group 1 and 3.33 months in Group 2 (p < 0.001). The overall complication rate was significantly lower in Group 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Prognosis of BU is improved after the introduction of biological treatment. Early use of biological agents in BU is effective in decreasing sight-threatening ocular complications.