| Contributors: |
Akgün, Ö; Demirkan, Fg; Benazzouz, D; Coşkuner, T; Çam, V; Polat, Mc; Esen, E; Conti, Ea; Şahin, N; Baba, Ö; Kılbaş, G; Kocamaz, Ng; Taşkın, Sn; Rigante, Donato; Jelusic, M; Horne, A; Öztürk, K; Özdel, S; Köker, O; Yüksel, S; Kalyoncu, M; Sönmez, He; Filocamo, G; Paç Kısaarslan, A; Mastrolia, Mv; Acar, Bç; Paut, Ik; Batu, Ed; Sözeri, B; Saadoun, D; Özen, S; Aktay Ayaz, N |
| Description: |
Objective: This study aims to examine the indications for pediatric rheumatologists to use biologic therapies in childhood Behçet’s disease (BD), as well as the efficacy, safety, and remission rates of such treatments. We also compare demographic and clinical characteristics of Turkish and European cohorts. Methods: In this multicentric retrospective study, the data of 109 pediatric BD (pedBD) patients diagnosed before 18 years of age, obtained from Pediatric Rheumatology European Society (PRES) vasculitis study group, which involves 19 centers across six countries were analyzed. Results: Of the patients, 64 were from Turkey and 45 from Europe. The primary indications for initiating biologics were ocular (40.4%), mucocutaneous (22.9%), and neurologic (17.4%) involvement. TNF-α inhibitors were used in 90.8% of cases, with adalimumab (ADA, 59 patients) and infliximab (IFX, 38 patients) being the most commonly prescribed agents. Skin involvement was more common in Turkish cohort compared to European cohort (p |