Treat to target in Behcet's disease: Should we follow the paradigm of other systemic rheumatic diseases?


Fragoulis G. E., Bertsias G., Bodaghi B., Gul A., van Laar J., MUMCU G., ...More

Clinical Immunology, vol.246, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 246
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.clim.2022.109186
  • Journal Name: Clinical Immunology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Keywords: Behcet's disease, Disease activity, Treat-to-target
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2022During the last decades the efficacy of biologic agents, mainly of anti-TNFs, in controlling the activity of serious manifestations of Behcet's Disease (BD) has been established. On the other hand, the clinical heterogeneity of BD has precluded the validation of a widely-accepted composite index for disease assessment and for target disease-state definitions, such as low disease activity and remission, and the testing of their implementation in clinical practice. Therefore, in contrast to other systemic rheumatic diseases, a treat-to-target strategy has not yet been developed in BD. There are several challenges towards this approach, including standardization of outcome measures for assessing the disease activity in each-affected organ and construction of a composite disease activity index. The challenges for the development of a treat-to-target strategy and possible solutions are discussed in this position paper, which stemmed from a round table discussion that took place in the 19th International Conference on BD.