Health- and vision-related quality of life in patients receiving infliximab therapy for Behcet uveitis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the changes in health-related and vision-related quality of life (HR-QoL and VR-QoL) in patients with Behçet uveitis (BU) receiving infliximab therapy.

METHODS:

Twenty patients with recurrent BU attacks were enrolled. All patients were treated with infliximab. We evaluated the mean number of uveitis attacks and the mean score of extraocular manifestations by Behçet disease current activity form (BDCAF) during the 6 months before and the 6 and 12 months after initiation of infliximab. The EuroQol-5D questionnaire (EQ-5D) and the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) were self-administered in all patients before treatment and, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Patients' pre- and post-treatment EQ-5D and NEI VFQ-25 scores were compared.

RESULTS:

By the 6- and 12-month follow-up, the frequency of uveitis attacks and the BDCAF scores was significantly decreased compared with the 6 months before starting infliximab (p<0.0001). Fully completed questionnaires were received from all patients. Infliximab therapy was associated with a significant improvement of the EQ-5D (p<0.0001), NEI VFQ-25 composite score (p=0.0001), general health score (p=0.0001) and mental health score (p=0.0001). This result shows a significant decrease in inflammatory activity of the disease and consequently improvement in HR-QoL and VR-QoL scores with a rising response pattern in all dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS:

Relief of uveitis attacks and extraocular manifestations by infliximab therapy significantly improved the HR-QoL and VR-QoL in patients with BU.

• Authors: Tsutomu Sakai, Hiroka Watanabe, Kana Kuroyanagi, Goichi Akiyama, Kiichiro Okano, Hideo Kohno, Hiroshi Tsuneoka
• Journal: The British journal of ophthalmology (Br J Ophthalmol) Vol. 97 Issue 3 Pg. 338-42 (Mar 2013) ISSN: 1468-2079 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23314623 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Infliximab

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
• Behcet Syndrome (complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Female
• Health Status
• Health Surveys (methods)
• Humans
• Infliximab
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Quality of Life
• Retrospective Studies
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Uveitis (drug therapy, etiology, physiopathology)
• Visual Acuity
• Young Adult