[Plasma exchange and acyclovir in Behçet's disease].

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Virology
• Ophthalmology

Context:

• Behçet's disease is a complex inflammatory condition.
• A viral etiology, specifically herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), has been proposed for Behçet's disease.
• Severe ocular manifestations necessitate effective treatment strategies.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy of plasma exchange combined with high-dose acyclovir in treating severe ocular Behçet's disease.
• To investigate the potential role of HSV-1 in Behçet's vasculitis.

Summary:

• Seven patients with severe ocular Behçet's disease underwent treatment with plasma exchange and intravenous acyclovir.
• Panretinal fluorescein angiography showed no change in fundus lesions for 3 patients, improvement in 2, and worsening in 2.
• The study suggests HSV-1 is unlikely to be the causative virus in Behçet's disease, and plasma exchange offered only transient benefits.

Impact:

• The findings challenge the hypothesis of HSV-1 involvement in Behçet's disease.
• This study indicates that the combined treatment approach is not effective for severe ocular Behçet's disease.
• Further research is needed to understand the underlying causes and identify effective therapies for Behçet's disease.